‘Election Interest Women’s Duty’

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31196, 21 October 1966, Page 2

‘Election Interest Women’s Duty’

A survey among young people, recently broadcast, had shown that many were not interested in the coming General Election, some had given it no thought, yet others felt it was their duty to vote intelligently, the president of the Christchurch branch of the National Council of Women (Mrs C. J. Ashley) told a meeting of the branch last evening.

“What did emerge from this broadcast was that in almost every case where the young people were aware of their responsibilities, their parents were vitally interested. This applied to all shades of political opinion,” she said.

“We should be most concerned about this, because it is our duty to encourage the

young people to think for themselves and to realise that the Government of the country is the concern of every adult,” said Mrs Ashley.

The founder of the council of New Zealand, a woman of great foresight, had canvassed unceasingly to get the vote for women, and had not stopped until she had reached her goal, said Mrs Ashley. “I wonder how many of us really appreciate what those enthusiastic women did for us, often at great inconvenience to themselves. They won for us the right to vote and it is our duty to use that right intelligently, thoughtfully and with knowledge.

“Do we think for ourselves?” asked Mrs Ashley. “Do we go to hear political speakers or listen in to them? If we go, do we ask pertinent questions about things that concern not only women but all citizens? “We women have a tremendous voting power and it is our obligation to our country and to our children to use that power to the best possible advantage,” said Mrs Ashley.