WOMEN'S VIEWPOINT

Evening Post, Volume CXXVI, Issue 78, 29 September 1938, Page 24

WOMEN'S VIEWPOINT

NEED IN PARLIAMENT

MRS. GILMER'S CLAIM

The Liberal candidate for Wellington North, Mrs. Knox Gilmer, found considerable support , for her view that women should be in Parliament when she spoke in,the Methodist Hall, Molesworth Street, last evening. The hall was packed to the doors and well over a hundred people listened from outside through the open windows, many others having no chance of hearing anything and deciding riot to stay.

A small minority of the audience gave audible expression to their opposition to the candidate, but in general the audience was with her and a vote-of thanks and confidence was carried- by acclamation, the minority contenting themselves with cheers for the Labour Party Mr. R. L. Macalister

presided. * The ideal Government would be one composed of the best 1 men and women in the country' said Mrs.-Gilmer, after emphasising her firm adherence to the principles of Liberalism. As in the past there were men now holding portfolios for' which they were entirely unsuited. "IN THE DARK." "We are still living in the dark about women,* declared Mrs. Gilmer. A male voice: You said it, sister. (Loud laughter.) It surprises me that some people still think women should not be in Parliament. The same voice: Shame! "I do think ity is a shame-, and we must try to lighten their darkness and point out the way they should go," said Mrs. Gilmer. "I am very surprised that men can still say there is no place for women in Parliament. What is the matter with the men?" ' A voice: There are some women there npw. , Mrs. Gilmer: 1 am inclined some- i times to think some of them are still wearing knickerbockers. (Laughter.) New Zealand must come out of its backward state, said Mrs. Gilmer, and the men and women of Wellington North now had the chance to put a woman into Parliament with a political mind and political traditions. A voice: With a Conservative mind. Mrs. Gilmer: Never! With a Liberal mind. I have told you before how I stood and I' have never yet had a Conservative rhind so far as the people of this country are concerned. The bachelor Minister of Mines had expressed himself in favour of women being in Parliament. "I hope there are a few bachelors there when I get in," Mrs. Gilmer added, amid laughter. One woman had said to her, "We want women in Parliament; you are badly needed there, and all the women are behind you to a man." (Renewed laughter.) "NO DUMB DOG." Mrs. Gilmer stressed the necessity of getting fight down to the question of the health of the community, and of putting into effective operation a policy of prevention of illness rather than of cure. "L will be no dumb dog in Parliament," she declared. "No man is going to tap-me on the shoulder and tell me which lobby I should vote in:" (Applause.) A voice: You will have to sit with Mr. Wright. (Laughter.) Mrs. Gilmer: Yes, and a very good man he; is, too. There will be*.a lot Of good men going into Parliament but I can't sit with them all. (Renewed laughter.) A vote of thanks and confidence m Mrs. Gilmer, proposed by Miss Amy Kane, was carried by acclamation and the singing of "For She's a Jolly Good Fellow."