TWO WOMEN M.P.'S

Auckland Star, Volume LXXII, Issue 170, 21 July 1941, Page 9

TWO WOMEN M.P.'S

Mrs. Dreaver Joins Mrs. C. C. S. Stewart

For the first time in history, an Auckland electorate has returned a woman to Parliament. For the first time in the history of New Zealand there will be two women, sitting side by side, on Parliamentary Tho U V° women are Mrs. f Isreaver, who has just won the seat for Waitemata at the reccnt bvelection, and Mrs. C. C. S. Stewart member for Wellington West who was returned at the last election, i no pioneer woman member of ParI lament in New Zealand was the late Mrs. McCombs who retained the ,- v ,i° n i f° r Labour on the death of her husband. last - t,ie women of isow Zealand nave a mover and a seconder. It is possible to envisage circumstances when a solitary woman could not get the required support on certain subjects. Now matters vital to women can be forcccl into debate—always provided that tne two women members are prepared to defy the dictates of the party whip! Civic and Social Work Mrs. Dreaver has had years of experience in civic and social matters. To name a few of her activities, for eight years she has been on the Auckland Hospital

Hoard, a body composed largely of business men. For three years, as a member of the City Council, to which she was re-elected for another term at the last election, she has served on the parks committee, the library committee, the health committee. and on the recently formed milk in schools' committee. Mrs. Dreaver was the first woman to be elected to the Transport Board, and is actually the only woman in New Zealand ever to serve on such a body. She is also the only woman member of the Auckland Metropolitan I licensing Authority which controls the licensing of taxi-cabs. "If I can do something for the women and children of New Zealand, that, is all I want to do." said Mrs. Dreaver when interviewed this morning. "I shoukl like to see a sort of advisory council set up in the Dominion where women from all centres, both town and country, could meet to discuss problems, particularly concerning women and children. This Hedy must have a direct contact with the women members of Parliament to discuss any social legislation affecting women and children and the youth of the country." Women's Point of View "There is no problem facing any progressive Government to-day that cannot best be solved by a full consideration of the women's point of view." said Mrs. Dreaver. Mrs. Dreaver has been untiring in her efforts to bring about some scheme for helping the young mother with a large family, and the farmer's wife, to secure adecpiate domestic help particularly before and after the birth of the new baby. Her work as a panel lecturer for the women's division of the Farmers' I'nion and the Women's Institutes has made her acutely aware of the difficulties which face the country women at this time. And as the mother of a large family herself, she is fully aware of the problems which confront the city woman particularly if she has little children. "What I particularly want to see." said Mrs. Dreaver, "is the younger women coming forward to carry on the work. There are too many elderly people in authority, not only on local bodies, but in social service groups. The younger element must be encouraged."