The Scheme of Things

Evening Post, Volume CXXI, Issue 115, 16 May 1936, Page 19

The Scheme of Things

I By M.X.C.

Many women will be interested in knowing something of the ideas of a woman M.P. Miss -May Holman has been a member of the State Parliament in Australia for ten years, and recently "Dawn," the organ of the South Australian women, gave some account of her ideas as follows:— "Women are. proud to be represented in the State Parliament by Miss May Holman, Labour member for Forrest in the Legislative Assembly," says the writer. "Miss Holman, who this year is completing ten years of Parliamentary service, having been returned continuously ever since 1925 when, she succeeded her late father, shares with Lady Astor, M.P., of Great Britain, the distinction of being the only two women who have consistently held, a seat in Parliament for so many years. Miss Holman is secretary of the Labour " Parliamentary Party (W.A.); representative of Labour Women on the Economic Council; president of the Perth Labour Women's Organisation, and president of the Labour Women's Inter-State , Council. In spite of the full and strenuous life she leads, Miss Holman is a woman of great personal charm and attractive appearance, and is beloved of a great circle of friends throughout Australia, all of who,m are not of her own particular political colour. Always interested in any movement having as its aim the well-being of the people,-Miss Holman is esteemed throughout the State for her ever-ready.help and.sympathy. "A keen advocate of women's rights," states the writer, "she is continually '.on!'the"alert to combat "any proposals .which may adversely affect women's status. Spe'akingin the House on September 19.in the debate on the 1935-36 Estimates', Miss Holman said that,the present.reclassification of women in the Civil Service represented a further attack on the status of women/ For many years,' she said, there had been arguments in various quarters about women taking.men's jobs. She considered that -the '.Australian Labour" Party had1 the'right'idea when they said that the only solution to the problem was to give women equal pay for equal work with men. the re-' classification was unjust to women, who- in' every instance would' suffer reductions, while on the. other hand many men would have increased salaries. ■-:■ -■ ■ '■■ • : J'Jn-PSes^&g. the.Government to give consideration -to the need for school children to be supplied with milk and a- ; scheme submitted; by, ihe . Whole Milk' Board, Miss Ho'lmari briefly outlined a scheme in operation in Melbourne," continues the writer. "The Metropolitan Milk Council of Melbourne- was established in 1932, and arrangement was then made whereby milk was sold at 10d a gallon delivered in bulk "at the schools. With the cooperation .of- mother's' clubs arid'teaching staff the milk was heated, and in some cases converted,into cocoa,.and

distributed to the children during the morning recess. The funds-raised were subsidised by the council on a fiftyfifty basis, but kindergartens were supplied free. The total number of schools; supplied was 35 in that year and the total quantity of milk supplied . for the year was 9441 gallons.