Women's Role In N.Z. Life Criticised

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29855, 22 June 1962, Page 2

Women's Role In N.Z. Life Criticised

(from Our Ouin Keyorter)

TIMARU, June 21. “New Zealand women are not ready to fight; all that concerns them is being ladylike,” Mrs K. Isherwood told a women’s forum in the Adult Education Centre today. Mrs Isherwood, who was discussing why women had failed to exercise a substantial influence on New Zealand politics, suggested that women should go on strike, and got work through men. “Women make resolutions, and then they look round for a man. They get all the kudos, and the women have to do aJll the work,” she said If women sponsored their own efforts. men would begin to take notice.

The former Dominion secretary of the National Council of Women (Mrs F. Kemshed) referred to the influence of women in newly-inde-pendent countries and asked: “Are our women less acceptable, less intelligent, hardworking or devoted than those of other lands? It is 60 years since we were given the right to vote, but what active contribution have we made .to community and national life? Except for the work of a few outstanding women, very little.” Mrs Kemshed said. She blamed the apathy and 'indifference of many, an inferiority ’ complex—“an echo of the Victorian era”—and lack of support given by women to women candidates. “Burblings” In House “Women are not getting a chance; they never get a toehold to prove themselves. We are accused of dealing in personalities—but just listen to the bur blings in the House some time. It so upsets me to hear men scrapping and talking like a tot of little boys at school. “I would like to see a band of women in Parliament to take a more independent line, to speak up on the big issues. But then they might be unable to catch the Speaker's eye: we would have to get a woman Speaker,” said Mrs Kemshed. Jury Service

Referring to women jurors. Mrs Kemshed said that women had been serving on juries in England since the

early twenties. Jury service for women had been a platform of the National Council of Women since its inception in New Zealand in 1893, An "unsatisfactory'' voluntary service was instituted a few years ago, but women had been challenged. “Do our legal friends think we lack common sense or intelligence?” Mrs Kemshed asked. She said the timeworn cry of woman’s place being in the home could hardly hold today. There were single women with brains, character, and ability who could make a splendid contribution to national and political life. “What happens when a woman offers her services for Parliament? Has any party offered her anything but a fairly hopeless seat? “One has a strong suspicion that women were not chosen as candidates merely on their own merits to start with, but because caucus, br party saw a seat made safe by a large sympathy vot.e They cast the mantle of Elijah around their new candidate, trusting it would hide

any feminine imperfection,” Mrs Kemshed said. As long as voting was going to be largely in the hands of men, women would not ge very far. There were women with a broad, sane outlook who would be much more careful about finance than men were, who would no: fling money around. On all women's committees women appointed as secretary or treasurer worked for years, but on men’s committees the first thing that was decided was what honorarium was

going to be paid, Mrs K.emshed said. “How often have women been chosen for overseas con'erences? When councils for he care of the aged were formed throughout New Zealand a few years ago. the central council consisted of 12 men—in spite of the fact that in our hospitals and institutions there were women trained in the care of old people. “Do men fear our independent outlook? Is it a hopeless dream to envisage the day when there will be a body of women in Parliament large enough to influence government policy? What thinking woman can remain unconcerned while forces whose effects are terrifying leading scientists are being loosed around us?” she asked. Party Discipline

“Do you think that perhaps men do not feel that women are rigid enough in their party loyalties? Do you think we would get on better if we kept a more independent spirit? Surely we have some contribution to make to the life, of this country? To women, people matter—not the shibboleths. Is it perhaps that men are afraid to choose a woman because she might not be so amenable to discipline?” Mrs Kemshed asked.

She described the party system as “an iniquity.” Party disciplines were too strong, which resulted in the death of independent spirit. She said she was shocked once to read “a sane, thoughtful leader” in "The Press” which discussed certain ramifications of party politics, and the possibility of a man who had voted against his party being put on one side as not being dependable. “I thought what a dreadful thing it was that a man should be so treated because he had followed the dictates of his own conscience, and not voted according to party policy.” Mrs Kemshed added.