Mrs Garrett Has 72 At Sydenham Meeting

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31206, 2 November 1966, Page 18

Mrs Garrett Has 72 At Sydenham Meeting

Mrs Helen Garrett, the National Party candidate for Sydenham, introduced herself as of '‘the same sex in a different model,” when she gave the opening address of her campaign in the Somerfield Community Centre to 72 persons last evening. “Obviously Sydenham voters have no prejudices against a woman member of Parliament.” she said. “They have had one for more than 20 years. What the National Party is offering you this time is the same sex in a different model.” Mrs Garrett said she was not the militant feminist type: a woman’s place was. first, in the home. But if and when a woman was free enough, she could be of use in politics. “Gentle Reminding” “As most of the men will be aware,” she added, “when a woman decides that something needs doing, she usually gets it done. I won’t admit that women nag. but they do have the art of gentle, persistent reminding.” Reminding done by her, and other women all over New Zealand helped to bring about a reform in the method of calling juries in that women now serve. “Women have a slightly different point of view on life—especially family women—and they have a lot of common sense,” she added. “Some even have a few brains.” Some people assumed, the National Party was not for Sydenham because, they said. Labour was the party of the working man. Mrs Garrett said she denied this. On the Sydenham electorate committee of the National Party were a plumber, carpenter, mechanic, waterside worker, retired farmer, solicitor, milk-

man. manager. postman, teacher and housewife. The National Party represented all sections of the community. All wer-j workingmen and working-women in New Zealand. The only difference was that some worked harder than others.

Sixteen per cent of New Zealand children were in private schools, and the National Government intended to increase its aid to these schools by a system of loans for approved new buildings, Mrs Garrett said. “And fair enough, too; they save the taxpayer as much as £2O million a year.” Vietnam Policy It was amazing that the Labour Party and the Vietniks had learned nothing from the last war, she said. All should have learned from the fearful progress of that it was no good giving way before an aggressor and following the path of appeasement. If the Labour Party thought it right for New Zealand to withdraw its troops, then it would think it all right for the Americans to withdraw theirs. Or did the Labour Party want the Americans to keep on fighting while the New Zealanders withdrew? “I can’t believe,” said Mrs Garrett “they would really lower the New Zealand flag and withdraw our troops. But that’s what their policy is.” Though Mr Kirk had shown himself ruthless in getting rid of some respected, older members, such as Mr H. G. R. Mason, he had apparently not been able to control the Federation of Labour. If the federation felt it could dictate to the government in power, prospects of continued industrial harmony would be much less.