New Zealand Delegate at Meeting of U.N.O. Speaks for Women's Rights

Evening Star, Issue 25956, 22 November 1946, Page 11

New Zealand Delegate at Meeting of U.N.O. Speaks for Women's Rights

The Social, Humanitarian arid Cultural Committee of the United Nations recently temporarily interrupted consideration of its constitution to discuss a Danish resolution regarding; the (political rights of women. The declaration calls on- member States that have not already done so to ' adopt measures necessary to fulfil the purposes and ends of the Chapter in this respect, and also recomnuidds that in dealing with applicationsfor membership consideration be given to the political rights of women, in the applicant States. The chairman, Sir Carl Berendsen, rejitindedl the committee of the steps taken so far : The appointment of a sub-commission of the Commission on Human Rights of the Economic and Social Council which met in May, 1946, and the subsequent raising of the status of the sub-connnission to a full commission. Tlie committee, he said 1 , had to decide whether it was content with the progress made by the council or whether it would adopt the additional measures proposed by Denmark. Mrs Begtrap, of Denmark, said that the resolution could be divided into two parts, and the second was therefore before the committee.

Speaking for New Zealand, Mrs A. F. It. Mclntosh warmly supported the resolution. It would,” 6he said, “be almost startling if no word was heard to-day from a representative,of New Zealand, whose Prime Minister has spoken on earlier occasions in no uncertain manner on the subject, whose Prime Minister sent me here not as representing women, not to speak or advise on a limited set of subjects, but as a representative of the New Zealand Government with full delegate status. That is how the Government feels and that*ls,where it stands.” Mrs Mclntosh spoke of the interest of all New Zealand) men and women in the preamble of the Charter. “They feel it belongs to themselves, that it, expresses in - words they themselves might use their deepest feelings and faith in fundamental human rights, in the dignity and worth of the human person, iii the-equal rights of men and women of nations large and small. New Zealand women have had political franchise for over 50 years. It

was not handed to them on a platter, however. They and the fnr-,seeing men worked hard and long to achieve it because it seemed to them a reasonable demand. Women in several other lands now have political franchise after a struggle for it. Why must there be repetition after repetition there now, before step by step, country by country, equal status as citizens, as human beings, comes to men and women? Members of the United Nations have adopted the" Charter; why not in practice, particularly where it has actually proved practicable? ” she asked'.

Dunedin Bride and Wellington Groom. The marriage was recently solemnised in First Presbyterian Church of Nancy, onlv daughter of Mr and Mrs W. R. McHugh, of Dunedin, and Horace, eldest son of Mr and Mrs H. Tilly, of Wellington. The bride, who entered the church with her father, wore a gown of white matt crepe, embroidered with head work on the neck line, sleeves, and train. Her tulle veil was caught to the head by a coronet of roses and lily of the valley, and her slieaf bouquet was of roses, fragrantissima, and lily of the valley. Misses Hilda Pattillo and Rena Melville were the attendant maids, and they wore gowns of duck-egg blue crepe, with crystal beading at the neck lines. They carried bouquets of deep crimson rose and) tulips, andl wore sprays of roses in their hair. Mr Frank Pedder attended the bridegroom, and the groomsman was.Mr Rob McNeill. During the ceremony, at which the ltev. W. Allen Stevel.v officiated, a solo was sung by Miss Mavis Crawford. The reception was held at the Somerset Lounge, where the guests were received by Mrs McHugh, assisted by Mrs Tilly. Following the reception, the bride and bridegroom left for the north, the bride wearing a marina blue model frock, with matching edge-to-edge coat, and nigger brown accessories. Mr and Mrs Tilly will make their home in Dunedin, Pre-wedding parties were given for the bride by Mrs Pedder, Misses Rena Melville and Hilda Pattillo, of Dunedin, and Miss Noelino Sands, of Wellington.