WOMEN IN POLITICS

Evening Post, Volume CVII, Issue 32, 9 February 1929, Page 20

WOMEN IN POLITICS

AUSTRALIA'S EXPERIENCE

AVriting on 'Tho Female Franchise in Australia" in the December number of the "National Beview," "An Australian Politician" suggests. that had shrewd inquiries been made in Australia by the British Government before granting women 'the franchise, considerable disillusionment would hav6 resulted. "Tho women of Australia,". he writes, '' are distinctly above the European average in intelligence, enterprise, and independence. ■. . . Yet until they were forced into the polJing-booth by the compulsory voting law the great majority abstained from voting, and they were not at all interested in procuring those • reforms towards which their womanly instincts and convictions would, we used to bo told, irresistibly draw them."

The activity in politics of a few women has given the casual observer a mistaken impression of the mass, says the writer. Even among the leaders he has not met tho / comprehensive outlook that public life requires. No woman has succeeded in entering the Federal Parliament, and this is due to the lack of. support of women. The careers of the few who have entered State Legislatures have been neither long nor distinguished. Those who have won seats have done so through tho sympathy of men rather than by virtue of their own qualifications. With the exception oi a fow propaganda newspapers of no consequence, journals written for women as a rule avoid politics. If a. political question of importance is discussed in the columns of such papers it is perfectly safe to say that the article is written by a man.

"Beyond all question," he continues, "the attempts to interest the women of Australia in politics have been pitiable failures. . . . When campaign time arrives the women are rounded up to hear spoeches from Parliamentary candidates approved by tho National Federation. ,To address a gathering of this kind is a humiliating and disillusioning experience. An audience of men will follow with understanding a capable exposition of a political subjoet. but a speaker addressing a meeting of women, well educated and ordinarily intelligent, will rarely observe in the ±'ace 3 before him any signs of comprehension or interest. Repeated ordeals of this kind—and they are the regular experience of public men—drive home the conviction that'it would have been wiser to abstain from giving the^women the vote."

The enfranchisement of women, the writer states, has enormously increased the cost of Parliamentary contests. Tho women demand to be driven to and from the polls. One: Federal Labour candidate admitted after the last election that it had cost'him £400 to provide transport for women voters. If a canvass worn made of the women of Australia a large majority would ask to bo relieved of the responsibility of voting. When the recording-.of a vote was optional tho obligation was avoided by the majority of women. It cannot be too, strongly urged and reiterated that it is only women of an abnormal type, approximating to the mentality, and, not infrequently to the physical appearance, of the male, who' enter with zest into this now order of .things. To' the women of the true typo it has no attraction. That woman was made for homo and the upbringing of children may be a> plalitudo, but it is one whk-h civilisation will disregard at its peril. Too frequently in,these days has change boon mistaken for progress. It is certain that many steps, taken with confidence and enthusiasm, will have to be retraced; .and in, Australia a.sigh of.relief will go up. when it is decided to withdraw women from the rough, ruthless game of politics.