Still a long way to go

Press, 9 May 1983, Page 16

Still a long way to go

NZPA Wellington The newly elected vicepresident of the Federation of Labour, Sonja Davies, has applauded the progress of women in the F.O.L. organisation. She adds that they still have a long way to go. Mrs Davies is the first woman to be elected to the position. After the announcement of the result, she was “slightly stunned,” but delighted. One of her strengths, said Mrs Davies, was that she had the support of a wide range of women. Numbers of women at conference had increased from seven at the first conference she attended in 1969, to 69 this year. “When women got up to speak then (1969) men all got up to read their newspapers or have a beer.” But women had made great strides in the F.O.L. since then, with the adoption, in 1981, of the Working Women’s Charter and the subsequent establishment of the federation’s Women’s Advisory Committee.

Mrs Davies said she was looking forward to working on the federation’s executive, and supporting its president, Mr Jim Knox. The president’s job was getting more onerous every day, she maintained. An important part of her role was to see that the work went smoothly. “I’ve worked with Mr Knox for a long time, and his leadership has changed the style of the F.0.L.” She sees the leadership of Sir Tom Skinner as one of negotiating with the government without the extensive involvement of the national executive.

Jim Knox, she said, ran an “open government,” always consulting executive officers and/or delegates involved when dealing with a dispute. “I’ve experienced both styles and I’ve enjoyed this one.”

She intends to promote the further progress of the role of women in the federation from her newly-won position. But Mrs Davies

said she was happy to be behind the scenes, in keeping with the traditional nature of the vice-presi-dency. “There is a place for the president and a place for the vice-president.” Of the election and competition leading up to it, Mrs Davies said, ruefully: “It’s not the sort of thing I’d want to do everyday.” She felt she was

“knocked” during the lead up to the vote because she was a woman. She particularly resented the accusation that she was the political puppet of other men. “I was called everything from a ‘self-confessed socialist’ to ‘hardly a leftwing hard liner.’ “Normally I wouldn’t care, but that was just untrue and unfair. I’m glad to be in a position Where I

can carry out F.O.L. policies at that particular level, and I hope I will always remember to go back to the people.”

Looking to the future, Mrs Davies said she thought she would be happy to stay where she was, and shied away from stating any aspirations for higher office.

“I’m happy to see Jim leading.”