LADY ASTOR IN HOT WATER.

Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 27 May 1925, Page 10

LADY ASTOR IN HOT WATER.

THE SPEAKER’S REBUKE,

ARE YOU NOT PROVOCATIVE

Women in Parliament and Labour members are touchy to a dcgiee .not generally found in the more hardened sections of the House of Commons. They'' are more earnest and really anxious to get something done, and for that reason cannot take calmlyto the nonchalance of the Parliamentary manner. This aphorism was exemplified once more recently when in the debate on a bill to facilities the adoption Of children, Lady As tor was rebuked by the Speaker. , , The bill was brought forward .last vear, but obstructed by the Home Office, did not get out lie Statute book. It gives to persons adopting children under ten years of age full parental control. The practice of adoption which had existed in this country so dong had never been, legalised, and was subject to grave abuses. The Bill merely legalised the system and gave the adopting parents or guardians full authority over the child to the exclusion of any' other person. “This unwanted child, a nobody’s child, is subject to no trade union restrictions, and the unscrupulous may use the process of adoption very' easily to secure another, pair of hands to work at a cheap price,” said the bill’s sponsor. Sir Geoffrey Butler. The Attorney-General of the last Government, Sir Henry Siesser, supported it, saying “since the war many people had taken children into their homes who would otherwise have been neglected or become destitute, but these children had no negal status and no recognised parents.” But the Labour member with the amusing name of Hayday would not have the bill. He ought to know something of children, since he has a very large family'—lß we are credibly informed — and when Lady Aster was calling for enthusiastic support of the Bill, he interjected a remark that there was apparently' no working women associated with the inquiry, the outcome to which was the Bill under consideration.

Lady Astor indignantly scouted the idea that the working mother is different from ony other mother, adding, “a mother is'the same in all walks of life.” To this,' Mr. Haydav replied: “I hope the noble lady reads the reports which state that at society gatherings little puppy dogs take the place of children.” This roused Lady Astor to such a pitch of wrath that, forgetting Parliamentary usuage, she turned and addressed the unfortunate member direcly instead of —as is the .Parliamentary rule—addressing herself to the Sneaker. The indignant woman member retorted to Mr. Hayday: “If I told all. I know about the lion, member, I could give the House something to think of. I could go into some of the company he has kept that would not reflect credit on himself or his party.” This roused the House,' and there were cries of order and withdraw Mr. Hayday jumped to liis feet and said, “I really do" think that is going beyond the bounds of order.” Hie Speaker then turned to Lady Astor and said: “You must not enter into these personalities.” Lady Astor then said: “I am quite willing to withdraw, but it : is very' difficult when you are talking on a thing y r ou feel' strongly about, that an lion, member should get up and say that because there was no Working women on the committee it was not representative, and also his references to puppy dogs and society were most insulting.”The Speaker then said: “I cannot agree that you are not your self sometimes provocative.” A soft impeachment Lady Astor admitted. The air thus cleared, the discussion went on calmly, and at the,.end the Government promised that a Bill would be introduced during the lifetime or the present Parliament. 1