WOMAN M.P.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIX, Issue 69, 18 February 1939, Page 15

WOMAN M.P.

MRS C. STEWART HONOURED. VISIT TO PALMERSTON NORTH. A warm welcome, including musical honours, greeted Mrs C. Stewart, Lahour member of the House of Representatives for Wellington West, and Mrs Dowse, a Labour member of the Wellington Hospital Board, at a reception given in their honour in the Jade tea-rooms yesterday afternoon. Over a hundred women representing the two women’s branches of the Labour Party, the Co-operative Women’s Guild and wives of members and officials of the Labour movement in Palmerston North, were present in spite of the short notice, and apologies were read from many who were unable to attend, including members of the junior branch of the Labour Party, on account of being engaged at their various occupations. Mrs Andrews, president of the central women’s branch, presided, and also present at the official table were Mrs J. Ifodgens and the Hon. Mark Briggs and Mrs Briggs. An apology was received from Mr J. Hodgons, M.P., who had left for Australia the night previously on official business for the Government.. Mrs Andrews, in welcoming the guests of honour, expressed the hope that they would spend an enjoyable time in Palmerston North. She then presented Mrs Stewart with a shoulder spray of Valotta lilies and Mrs Dowse with a similar spray of double gerberas. ITon. Mark Briggs, in the absence of Mr Hodgons. M.P.. welcomed Mrs Stewart on behalf of the people of Palmerston North. stating that Mrs Stewart had taken on the most difficult task of unseating one of the most firmly entrenched members of the Opposition, and bad won the laurels for Labour. Other speakers were Mrs Neidercr (representing the Co-operative Women's Guild), Mrs Harrod (representing the Terrace End women’s branch) and Mr V. A. Christensen (representing the L.R.C. and Terrace End men’s branch). Mrs Stewart, a quiet, logical speaker with a fund of ready wit. in-‘ torested her listeners with an account, of the incidents which led to her contesting the Wellington West seat against Mr B. A. Wright. She had been reluctant to entpr the field of politics as a Parliamentary candidate, but when a mere male had suggested that. Parliament was no place for a woman, woman-like she derided to al-

low her name to go forward. She had felt that even to preach the gospel of Labour till October 15 was a worthwhile job, and that if her work was to end on the eve of the election it would have l>een something accomplished. As time went on she felt that she had an advantage over her opponent in that she had a message to deliver to the people, whereas he had none. She had been bombarded with letters and telephone calls of not too complimentary a character, arid told in various ways and varied language that she “should have more sense.” However, the election had boon won. She wished to remind her listeners that her real test had yet to come. The winning of the election had been made possible by the work of others "besides herself, who had rallied fo the cause for Labour, and she realised that she would he critically watched, not only bv the men but by the women also. She would welcome criticism, because criticism was helpful, and she asked her listeners fo give her helpful criticism lecause she was ihere to represent the women of New Zealand. Referring to world conditions, Mrs Stewart said that,’ if the women of the world would think along the lines of peace the wholesale murder of war would he abolished. No woman wanted a son or husband or father mangled in war as she had seen many a man return from the last war to her home town, Glasgow. “I am a proud woman,” said Mrs ■ Stewart, “to be a unit of the New Zealand Parliament. It- is true that T am not a New Zealander by birth, but I am the grandmother of a grandson and granddaughter horn in New Zealand. The opposition to the Labour Government is not because it is wrong, but because it is right.” (Applause.) “The people need have no fear that they will suffer through the actions of the Government. It is the aim of our Government- that the good gifts of the Creator shall l>e used for the benefit of all the people.”

Mrs Dowse said she and Mrs Stewart had been in Palmerston North about eighteen months ago in connection with the Elizabeth McCombs Memorial Club, and their cordial reception on that occasion had prompted them to accept the invitation to be present at the trades union picnic this year. She spoke of the colossal achievement of Mrs Stewart in -winning so difficult a seat as Wellington AVest. In conversation with a friend from Canada she had been told that in the difficult electorates in that country they always put up women candidates. Referring to remarks which had been made to Mrs Stewart, Mrs Dowse recalled that on one occasion when Sylvia Pnnkhurst-, the great leader in the British women’s movement, had been lecturing a man in the audience interjected “How would you like to be a man?” to which Miss Pankhurst replied, “How would you?” Mrs Bowse thanked the ladies of Palmerston North for a very pleasant afternoon. Mrs Linda Bennett moved a hearty vote of thanks to Mrs Stewart and Mrs Dowse for their addresses and for coming to Palmerston North, and appealed to the women of New Zealand to support Mrs Stewart in her Parliamentary activities. This was seconded by Mrs Stagpoole and carried with prolonged applause. Musical items were given by Mesdames Cameron, Findlay, Jones and Conway, and the afternoon concluded with the singing of the National Anthem.