WOMEN IN PUBLIC LIFE.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XXXXI, Issue 7010, 6 July 1900, Page 2

WOMEN IN PUBLIC LIFE.

Fun began (reports tho N.Z. Times) when Mr G. W. Russell's Removal of Women's Disabilities Bill got into committee in the House on Wednesday, and interest in the proceedings was heightened by the presence during the evening of a full attendance of the sex in the Ladies' Gallery. Captain Russell took the first opportunity which presented itself of attacking the bill and impugning the sincerity of those who supported its passage. He denied that there was any genuine desire for a measure which would permit any woman to occupy a position to which a man could be appointed or elected. He described the men who supported the Bill as '»sloping-shouldered, soft-broad-hipped creatures, more like women than like men.' 1 For himself, he thought that women preferred men who were broad-shouldered and clean in the hip. " The men who support this bill, if the women could only hear them in the "lobbies " the leader of the Opposition was evidently too shocked at the thought to finish the sentence. In his reply, the member in charge of the bill claimed that for his height he was just as broad in the shoulders as his honorable and gallant namesake. One illustration of the possibilities of the bill given by Captain Russell was that under it a woman might be appointed to' a command, in " SediJon, s

Horse," a recently-formed mounted infantry corps. ' Mr Hornsby said that appointments of such a character were not unknown in connection with the history of Ireland, which recorded how women were appointed as colonels, and how their descendants drew pensions. " Do you want that to happen here ?" asked a member. Before resuming his seat, the member for Wairarapa complained of the ribaldry with which the question was being treated by the committee. The Colonial Secretary opposed the bill. His serious arguments were succeeded by some diverting remarks by Mr Smith, whose fancy was equal to picturing ladies wearing the spurs of cavalry officers. " If my wife becomes a cavalry officer," declared Mr MoLaohlan, " and dons the spurs, and forgetß to take them off when she goes to bed, there will be a row." And after some more frivolity, the member for Ashburton moved to make the operative clause of the Bill read, " From and after the passing of this Act, ' a woman may be nominated, appointed or elected to any public office or position in the army to which a man may be appointed or elected, any law or statute to the contrary notwithstanding." The added words were "in the army." Mr MoLachlan was also quite willing to throw the navy and volunteers open to the ladies. Mr Jackson Palmer, according to the irrepressible member for Taranaki, is "a lady-killer." When Mr Palmer got on his feet he made it clear that he ia a champion of the ladies, and he roundly blamed Mr Russell for bringing in the Bill, and thereby exposing women to insult by making them the subjects of the levity of the House. Instead of being rebuked, Mr McLachlan continued his light treatment of the question, and incidentally mentioned that there was one country, China, which was being governed by a woman, who had "made a howling mess of it." Mr Hogg referred to the peculiar circumstance that more than one man who had posed as a supporter of women's rightß bad not been able to gain a seat in Parliament since female franchise was granted. Mr Hornsby expressed the belief that women would elevate the tone of Parliament, while Mr A. L; D. Fraser remarked that he would do all in his power to see that the Bill passed— into oblivion. As the evening wore on, however, it was evident that the Bill had no hope of passing, on that occasion at any rate, i and the Premier suggested they should report progress and go home. Half an hour later the House accepted the suggestion and adjourned. It is not likely that the Bill will pass into law this session.