Women get 'pat on head’

Press, 8 November 1980, Page 5

Women get ' pa t on head’

PA Wellington With a “paternalistic pat on the head,” the Government had told women what they would get in the year celebrating the Mid-Decade on Women, rather than asking them what they needed, Labour’s spokesman on women, Mrs Mary Batchelor, has said. Apart from, representation at the Mid-Decade’s Copenhagen conference, the only other national event under way with the year almost over was the peace jog, “Women on the Move,” she said. A “disappointed” Mrs Batchelor said she was puzzled why the Government chose this project, “not simply a women’s issue,” but _ one concerning everyone interested in promoting world peace, .at the expense of other subjects of vital interest to women. “It is clear there was no consultation with women’s groups before ‘Women on the Move’ was planned, Mrs Batchelor said. The Government spokesman on . women, Mr McLay, had arbitrarily decided that the project would be the Government’s contribution to the year, she said.