Influence Declines

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31768, 27 August 1968, Page 2

Influence Declines

Canadian women had little influence in politics and the part they did play was probably declining, the Royal Commission on the Status of Women was told in Toronto recently. Most women interested in politics had been “sidetracked” into women’s groups, by provincial and federal parties, said a brief submitted by the Manitoba Volunteer Committee on the Status of Women. Decline “The lack of Influence of women’s organisations in turn appears to be resulting in a decline of women participating in politics through the medium of women’s groups,” it said.

The committee asked that all political parties make a greater effort to encourage

women to run as candidates in federal and provincial elections.

The 100-member volunteer committee consulted 40 women’s organisations and visited 45 Manitoba communities to gather information for its brief.

The report contained a cross-section of the opinions of women, said Mrs M. W Menzies, an economist and housewife who directed research for the brief, at a news conference.

Five Reports

The committee’s research covered women’s educational opportunities to birth control. The brief was in five reports. The report on Canadian women in public life was based on a three-month study of the participation by women in the three major provincial political parties and of provincial and federal policy in selecting women for govern-ment-appointed positions. The committee found that women occupied only four out of 285 seats in the last House of Commons, two of 57 seats in the Manitoba Legislature and only 16 of Manitoba's 1384 municipal council positions. Minor Tasks Women who tried to participate in politics were given such jobs as house-to-house canvassing, handling mailing lists or working at polls. They had little influence on policy decisions made at the constituency level and had made only an insignificant contribution to framing laws which governed society. Because they played so small a part in framing policy, women were usually overlooked by the parties when names of suitable appointees were submitted.

Tasty Potatoes.—Ever triad potatoes flavoured with nutmeg? Boil them, drain dry, sprinkle with grated nutmeg, add a knob of butter and return to the heat for five minutes. Shake the saucepan to distribute the melted butter, and serve.