CAIL TO N.Z. WOMEN TO PLAY BIGGER PART IN PUBLIC LIFE

Grey River Argus, 20 March 1947, Page 4

CAIL TO N.Z. WOMEN TO PLAY BIGGER PART IN PUBLIC LIFE

p.A. CHRISTCHURCH, Mar. 18. Women should rouse themselves and take a greater interest in the affairs of their towns, nation and the world, speakers at a women's rally held under the auspices of the Christchurch branch of the National Council of Women declared to-day. The Mayoress (Mrs. Hardy Cookson) welcomed the delegates. Too long, it was claimed, had women occupied an inferior place, and, now with the topsy-turvy world, they should assert their powers and run things the woman’s way. Women were told to develop a critical faculty, and to see that women contested local body and Parliamentary elections. *

Twelve women spoke this morning on various aspects of women’s participation in civic life. The rally, which is being attended by women from many parts of New Zealand, this morning attracted an audience of about 400, which included senior pupils from the girls’ high schools. The purpose of the conference is to show the ways in which women could play a more prominent part in everyday affairs. Miss Mary McLean, chairman of the Christchurch branch-of the National Council of Women, who presided, said that many of the sug- • gestions that came forward at the rally would be dealt -with as remits at the annual conference of the council at T'imaru next month. Democracy could not work unless its citizens were politically intelligent, said Miss Elsie Andrews (New Plymouth). At the time of the general election, people were urged to put all the sheep on one side and the goats on another, when, to any thinking person, this was absurd. Sentiment had been asked to oust reason. A dull-witted democracy faced the .prospect of a revival of the forces of tyranny and oppression. Mrs. G. H. Watts (Christchurch), said that the conditions of to-day made it imperative that women should take more part in civil affairs. Local Government, educational organisations., Plunket Society, and other public activities should attract their interest, and an active participation of women should see that their wishes were carried out. The housing shortage caused many of to-day’s problems, and it lay in the power of women' to set it right. The conference concluded to-night. Altogether there were 32 speakers, who had an audience of several hundred women at each session. The subjects dealt with covered a very wide range. The .speakers generally emphasised the need for women to wake up to their responsibilities; tomaintain the status and reputation which they had gained by work during the war years; and not to sink back into pre-war apathy.