WOMAN IN PARLIAMENT

Grey River Argus, 17 June 1925, Page 2

WOMAN IN PARLIAMENT

FIRST IN NEW SOUTH WALES. SYDNEY, June 5. New South Wales lias a woman member of the Legislative Assembly. Mrs Cowan, of West Australia, was the first of her sex in Australia to be elected to a- Parliament, but she was r(‘je'*ted by the electors at the second time of candidacy, and now Aliss Preston Stanley becomes the first in this State and the only one at present in the Commonwealth. Aliss Stanley, a Nationalist, was one of the five members elected for the Eastern Suburbs constituency at the elections last Saturday, and only fine other candidate was ahead of her in the poll. She -was m>t one of the successful candidates in the Nat ionalist pre-select ion ballot, but the Nationalist Association granted her permission to run as an accre. d'ted Nationalist, candidate. Aliss Stanley owed her eleclion to her far-reaching publicity, her business ability, her genuine enthusiasm—often for subjects that do not mean vote-catching—her fine speaking voice, and her impressive personality. She has been for years keenly interested in all subjects pertaining to women. Even psych’-- 4 - had deep intere t and she knows more about psycholog.y than about jazzing. She has made a habit of collecting presidentships, holding that office in the Feminists’ Club, the Women Alagist rates’ Efficiency League, and others. She is a director of a city firm. Th re is no movement on behalf of women or children or the unfit to which she has not lent a hand. Her name, thanks lo these activities, has engraved itself on the ]-üblir mind. She speaks rapidly and uses strange words, but uses them correctly. Early contact with matters of public moment caused her when only 16 years of age, to become as well known in the Legislative Assembly as a spectator in the ladies’ gallery, as the Speaker himself. Her vivid ’personality, then made manifest, has been one of her characteristics through all her worry. All Svdney, and (‘specially those keenly interested in politics, are waiting eagerly for her appearance in the House.