Better deal for women under Labour Govt?

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 33096, 11 December 1972, Page 7

Better deal for women under Labour Govt?

The New Zealand | “women’s movement” * looks forward to a better | deal for women now that the Labour Party is in power.

“We, in this movement, i are delighted that the Labour i Party is the Government and Iwe hope that much of the (legislation we have been I pushing for will be impleImented soon,” Miss Sue | Kedgley said yesterday. Miss Kedgley, who is a founder-member of the National Organisation for Women and of the Women’s Liberation Movement in New Zealand, was in Christchurch for the week-end to discuss 1973 tactics with local members of N.O.W. Political action

“Feminism in New Zealand is doing much re-thinking and the focds for next year is on political action —on lobbying Parliamentarians

and making an impact on politics where necessary,” she said./ “We are interested in such important matters as child care, the extension of accident compensation to the housewife, equal pay implementation according to the Royal Commission’s recommendations, and we hope that a payment for the mother at home will be introduced.” Men should not feel threatened by feminism, she said. They should realise its advantages and encourage women to attain self-fulfil-ment.

Miss Kedgley met local members of N.O.W. at a champagne breakfast arranged for her on Saturday morning. About 170 men and women attended to meet one of New Zealand’s leading feminists and co-author (with Sharon Cederman) of the new book, “The Sexist Society.” The book, which is primarily a series of interviews with New Zealanders discusses what is meant by suburban neurosis, its cause and what can be done to prevent it. “Breadwinner neurosis” is also considered. “Breadwinner neurosis is a

man's addiction to work, just. as an alcoholic is addicted to alcohol,” she said. “Essen-) tially it is a form of escape.” t Sue Kedgley, who prefers i Ms to Miss as a form of address, said she was impressed by the work being done by the Christchurch branch of N.O.W. She commended its part in Centrepoint, a proposed social and recreational club for Christchurch women, and N.O.W.’s planned retraining course for women.

Having finished her secondary school teacher’s I training course in Auckland, | she plans to go overseas next i year before settling down to! teach in New Zealand. She hopes to attend an international feminist convention! in New York in May, after) which she will probably* travel further afield.

The photograph shows Sue Kedgley (middle) at a champagne breakfast held in her honour on Saturday by the Christchurch branch of the National Organisation for Women. With ! her are Lee Drury, branch treasurer (left) and Joan ! Rotherham, branch president.