THE SCHEME OF THINGS

Evening Post, Volume CV, Issue 147, 23 June 1928, Page 14

THE SCHEME OF THINGS

(By"M.H.C")

Apparently-Australia is very unwilling to accord to Maud'o Eoyden any Press appreciation, though her meetings have- been quite as crowded and interesting as they were in New Zealand. The idea put forth by more than one paper is that there are quite as good ■women speakers in "Aussie" as Alias Koyden, and her London record is ignorecLin on her. The poet of long ago talked' of "inuto inglorious itiltons| J in \reference ,;tq-the poor in England, who Would, through lack of education ana opportunity, never mako 1 beautiful music or words or notes, or f climb to Fields of Parnassus," but, in thoso days when opportunity comes to 'all who work faithfully. for -it and have the education, personality, and general ability to come forward in,public lifc-^vell—why don't they? Tho * -world is wide; tho opportunities for such teaching as Miss Koyden is giving are always arising,- and the necessity for eloquent Christian teachers is most pressing. Certainly New Zcalanders would -welcome and respect an Austra-. lian "Maude Boy den" quite as warmly • as they did the English original;, but she would have'to, make her reputation in her own country as Miss Boyden has donej and, perhaps, when she found the immense- difficulty which "a prophetfinds1 in gaining honour in his own country," according to tho ancient wisdom, she would respect tho achievement of the recent visitor. New Zealand is proud of her women speakers, but not one wouia have allowed herself to be.com- ''' pared with the great Englishwoman, - -who, though handicapped by delicate < health, has won through English pre3Udico and Conservatism and made herself a personage in London, of all, cities ; i Wholehearted appreciation was given to Mau.de Eoyden here, and there •was no thought of comparison. It is rather a pity, therefore, that the people "in the big country next door were.not equally generous. . "It will soon bo a punishable of- ' fence to bo young in Hungary," says a-writer from abroad, and ho goes on to explain.that if the Minister of tho. Interior carries his latest Bill through Parliament, young women in Hungary • , Tvill find.it hard to earn a living. The Bill is drafted to-prohibit tho employment of women \uider forty years "of ago in hotels, restaurants, and cafes. : Cashiers; clerks, waitresses, chambcr--in;aids, and all female employees-must lie overforty. It is remarkable what an attempt is being made in the world of to-day to remove all possible temptations from young men. If things go on'as they threaten- the men will become the most spineless, characterless, - poor creatures possible to imagine. The kind of man. the Hungarian Minister pf the Interior Appears" to be is, unfortunately, ■ fairly, common; it,does not appear.'.to-occur to any.of them to try to "makeVinan manly," according to the old .idea of manliness. That was to credit men with self-control, self-re-straint,- self-mastery; to be 'decent people from- principle, and not from ' i'orco, or the removal from their path of everything or. every person who could cause them any temptation , to wrong-doing. The idea of placing all the responsibility on womenkihd, and ■bringing up a race of "feeble Adams —who will plead "tho .woman tempted mo" and that will be regarded as sufficient to exeuso him and bring down • punishment'" on -her—is a disastrous:.one to the good of tho race. A better estimate of the duty of man towards his follow human beings is badly needed, and the sooner those'in authority recog : . niso this, tho sooner will many of the ' distresses and miseries of the'world bo • swept away. It tnkes" both sexes to cause the misery, and logically it takes two to remove it, rnul.it is to be hoped •that unjust and illogical measures suck as the one mentioned will, sooir.be regarded in their true light—as totally uncivilised. ' . ■ "Time and Tide . states .that- tko Labour women of' the rank and file are growing dissatisfiecV.with the subordinate positioiua'llottcd them in thcirparty in Great Britaiu. . At' Margato find at Blackpool in 1926: and 192.7 the National Conference of Labour Women sent out what appeared to. bo advance, skirmishers to test'the-strength of women's position and tho"opposition which.any. movement might expect. In each ease thoissue centred, about tho.controversial question of birth controifrom Public Health authorities. A.small, but vigorous section of thewomen brought forward' tho policy of free information, carried'the conference, and sent up the -resolution.to the National Executive,of tho party. Each time, this executive, allegedly for fear of alienating the Eoman Catholic vote, dealt the womena slap in tho face by ignoring their proposals. This year. tho Labour Women's Conference will bo hold at Portsmouth, and tho result is being looked for with much interest. People want to know what the Labour women ■Will do? Will they raise the samo issues in- spite- of defeats'! Or will they sit down tamely, under tho snubs administered? Apparently, according to tho agenda for tho conference, they havo elected to do neither. The issue has shifted, but thero arc certain signs of a battle looming. The Independent - ' Labour Party is pressing for a constitution which will permit women's voice to bo more directly heard—and'more adequately. It is 'asking that four women be elected directly by the Women's Conference; that tho confercucehavo tho right to put down three resolutions on tho annual agenda of the Labour Party; and that- the National Conference of Labour Women shall bo called by tho party an official body. Similar resolutions have been sent in -from, other centres, and the - discussion is bound to bo lively and significant. The results' of tho conference will bo looked for with much interest.