Electoral lobby for women

Press, Volume CXV, Issue 33814, 10 April 1975, Page 6

Electoral lobby for women

A women’s electoral lobby will be set up in Christchurch by the local branch of the National Organisation for Women.

; It will be based on the Australian lobby, Pat Syme, : president of the branch, reported at N.O.W.’s annual imeeting last evening.' Ms Syme stressed in her annual report the “importance of having more women in Parliament.” Issues affecting mostly (Women were likely to be ishelved until women were better represented at all (levels, she said. ! N.O.W. will hold a seminar on May 10 on “Women as a Political Force.” Elsie Lock, Mary’ Batchelor, Vicki Buck, and Hilda Wright, and Judy Elworthy will speak on women in the political field. N.O.W. hoped to , put forward “concrete proposals for action” as a result of discussions at the seminar, said Ms Syme. Working towards legislation making discrimination on the grounds of sex illegal I must be high on the organisation’s priorities, she said. At present women job applicants could be “insulted” by prospective employers who asked questions about child care or their husband's attitude to ! their working. PAID LESS Women, said Ms Syme, .were paid less than men, denied promotion, and not incited to apply for jobs demanding initiative or responsibility. A quick glance through the situations vacant : columns would confirm this. International Women’s Year, she said, had been noth-

ing more than a catch-phrase. It was now close to “becoming a yawn,” said Ms Syme, expressing her disappointment at the “lack of action.” Women must alter their "old stance of meekness and; long-suffering.” They must be ; prepared to leap to the sup-; port of issues they regarded; as important. When the Parliamentary | select committee on women’s; rights submitted its report, it! was hoped there would be some major recommendations to bring about equality for women. Women must hope, for action rather than pro-i crastination from the Government, Ms Syme said.