HIBERNIAN SOCIETY

Evening Star, Issue 22805, 13 November 1937, Page 22

HIBERNIAN SOCIETY

On Monday evening a prepared debate was held in the Dunedin Hibernian Social and Debating Club room before a large attendance of members. The subject was ‘ That Women Should Be Disfranchised/ and Mr M. Moloney acted as judge. The affirmative (Messrs J. J. Kennelly, leader, and L. Fraser) expressed the view that women had not proved themselves capable of taking part in politics. Their judgment was apt to bo swayed by their emotions rather than their intellects. Social reforms dealing with the protection of women and ciTildren had been in nearly every instance instituted and carried out by men. For the negative side, Messrs L. Hanlon, leader, and C. Lynch traced the evolution of women’s rights from tho beginning of history. They said that tho idea that woman were intellectually inferior to men was definitely antiquated and out of date. Tho restraining influence of women voters was, in their opinion, never more necessary than at the present day. The leaders then replied, and tho judge announced his decision as a draw. Tho subject was discussed by the audience, and the meeting closed with a vote of thanks to the judge.