Women’s advance ‘gradual’

Press, 20 September 1978, Page 4

Women’s advance ‘gradual’

Women in New Zealand have gradually moved towards a more equal status with men, in theory if not in fact, according to Mrs Grace Hollander, the national president of the National Council of Women. However, because of the small proportion of women in Parliament and in senior Government and business positions, it might seem that they had made little progress since they won the vote 85 years ago, she said in Christchurch yesterday.

Mrs Hollander reviewed progress achieved by the N.C.W., which was formed in Christchurch in 1896, three years after women gained the vote on September 19, 1893. New Zealand was the first State in the world to grant , female suffrage.

Through its affiliated societies, the N.C.W. now represented a large number of New Zealand women, Mrs Hollander

said. Its watch committee scrutinised all legislation introduced in Parliament, and alerted the membership to measures of direct concern.

"Thus the N.C.W. has encouraged and observed the realisation of many of the objectives of its founders,” she said. Achievements included the ownership of matrimonial ' property and the rights of guardianship. Women had gained full equality in jury service, excellent equal-pay legislation, and the recognition that citizenship could be passed on through the mother instead of only through the father.

“The value of the wife’s contribution to the marriage partnership has at last been recognised and. with the establishment of the Human Rights Commission. discrimination on the ground of sex has been made illegal,” said Mrs Hollander.

The appointment of

women to commissions and committees was not only accepted now, but expected. However, Mrs Hollander noted the durability of old attitudes that expected women to be content in a supportive role.

"Professions which have many women members are still often headed by men,” she said. “In times of high unemployment women’s jobs are vulnerable and the flexible working conditions which suit many women are phased out. “In spite of equal-pay legislation, the average male wage is still much higher than the average female wage, and the assumption lingers that the breadwinner is always a man.” N.C.W. representatives had become accustomed, but not reconciled, to. having their well-researched views ignored by the news media, and then finding publicity given to those

who later echoed their objectives. New Zealand women would continue to work for the elimination of prejudices and discrimination, Mrs Hollander said.