Women’s Political Movement Suggested

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29352, 3 November 1960, Page 2

Women’s Political Movement Suggested

(From Our Own Reporter) TIMARU, November 2. A women’s political movement might be a worthwhile step towards achieving their goal and obtaining more women’s voices at Parliamentary level, suggested the Mayor of Timaru (Mrs Muriel Hilton) at the conclusion of a course conducted by the South Canterbury Council for Adult Education. Discussing the question, “Are Women in New Zealand Really Emancipated Today?” the Mayor said she thought women had failed to take advantage of their opportunities since they were enfranchised in 1893, from the point of view of the very small number who played their part as Parliamentarians and members of local authorities.

“I think it is because we are still imbued with the attitude that home is the woman’s sphere,” Mrs Hilton said. “As women the most vital and challenging question we have to face is that of peace and war, and I am disappointed that women are not taking it up as a body—equipped as they are, fundamentally and biologically.” Women’s organisations did not go sufficiently deeply into the question of the responsibilities of women, not only in connexion with national development and the affairs of the nation, but internationally, said Mrs Hilton. There were in existence several organisations with international links, but there appeared to be a point beyond which women were not prepared to go, Mrs Hilton said. “I sometimes wonder what has happened to the rebels who played such an outstanding part in achieving emancipation for women.” Women m U.N. Regretting that women were not availing themselves of their opportunities to play a decisive role, especially in the international sphere, Mrs Hilton said it was significant that in the United Nations General Assembly not one woman’s voice was raised to debate the issue of war and peace. “Untllwe can get women on to the world,forum speaking on behalf of woimen, and from the point of view of achieving world harmony, we will not get very far,” the Mayor said. Women’s organisations were not going to be effective in that role unless they were used as “stepping stones” to getting more women’s voices at the parliamentary level. “At some point the women of the country must become aware of their own potential in this field of expressing the needs of mankind in a more forceful way,” Mrs Hilton said. Home Ties A questioner ,Expressed the opinion that;.RßjHwlew Zealand, nfcre than iff any other country, much more seemed to be expected of women, In the home, and that interests should be channelled into something more worth while. It was also pointed out that women tended to avoid serious discussion. , . The Mayor: “I have heard it described as ’a , sta , ta °* anaesthetised domesticity . The chairman (Mr D. S. Markwell) said that although it was true that men influenced the opinions of women, a great many women influenced either consciously or unconsciously the opinions of their husbands. “I wonder if it is not because at Some point we miss out in our educational philosophy, that young persons do-not start off m their early life imbued with the idea that they must become fully informed, and realise their responsibilities ■ in the nation, and internationally,” said Mrs Hilton. Indifference Mrs Hilton- said she was perturbed when looking to the future for some evidence among the younger age groups as to whether they were at all interested in social and international problems and their own responsibilities in the matter, that we now had a generation of young people who were completely indifferent. “It is an indictment on society itself that we accept that state of affairs,” she said. “Are we throwing away, because of that indifference, the opportunities that have been given to us by the struggle and foresight of brilliant women of two or three generations ago? How can we again stimulate an awareness?” said the Maybr. A voice: J ‘We are spoon-fed. We hre living in a ‘fool’s para-

dise’.” “Women have faced a greater challenge in the extent of suffering through two World Wars and they suffered the most during the depression,” said the chairman. In spite of those challenges, women leaders had not emerged, apart from a few in Europe, who were conscious of the dangers of another war.

Women in general did not want to make the effort to get down to serious thinking, to face situations that could be disturbing to themselves, and to accept responsibility, Mrs Hilton said. Responsibility

“Why is it that with all the women’s organisations there are not more women offering themselves for local body work and parliamentary responsibilities? If we are perfectly honest with ourselves, is it not because we think it is going to take time, and is it perhaps more comfortable to leave it to the other fellow?” One of two women who hold the office of mayor in New Zealand, Mrs Hilton said she served as a city councillor for nine years. When it was suggested to her that she should contest the mayoralty at the last election she was not very keen about it. However, she felt it was a challenge, and that women should play their part. This had entailed a lot of sacrifice of personal time and interest and she felt it was perhaps because of that demand on the individual that women did not come forward.

Mrs Hilton said she thought adult education was missing out somewhere, and she was not aware that anywhere in New Zealand adult education had got down to educating women for the part they could play. Asked whether women’s organisations supported women who were prepared to offer their time in local body affairs, the Mayor said this had been the case in Timaru. “I do not subscribe to the philosophy that you should vote for a woman because she is a woman,” Mrs Hilton said. She said she had, wondered whether there was not room in New Zealand through women’s organisations to accept some common philosophy to be used as a means of getting together on certain issues.

Suggesting a women’s political movement, the Mayor said there would only be a broad platform of political principles, but it would be a step towards the desired goal. Women’s Organisations

In his summing up, Mr Markwell said there were a great many women’s organisations, but they tended to do a lot of social work, and were passive. They got carried away on details, absorbed in such matters as children’s footwear and the height of steps on a bus.

“H6w many deal with major problems such as the survival of our civilisation and the importance of atom bombs?” he asked.

Women’s organisations met every week to hear travel talks, but if trivialities and passiveness could be overcome it would go a long way inwards building up an active sense of women's responsibility in the community, Mr Markwell said.

“One of the great weaknesses of women is that perhaps they are not as thick-skinned as men —and they do not like criticism,” Mr Markwell said.