THE SPHERE OF WOMEN.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXVII, Issue 8362, 16 September 1890, Page 6

THE SPHERE OF WOMEN.

TO TilK KDITOK. Sir, — Mrs. Aldis has desired me to state my objections to women competing with men in industrial pursuits, with your permission I will do so as concisely as We find that human society is composed of two sexes, the number of each maintaining a pretty equal proportion, and that although there are physical and mental dissimilarities between them, they are the complement one of the other. In the nature of things woman is invested with the important and holy responsibilities of maternity, the nurture and training of the young, as well as the inculcation of moral sentiments, and social virtues. Under normal conditions of life it is man's duty and privilege to be the provider and fuardian of the other sex, and their offspring, 'o man also belongs the aggressive and competitive relations of life. Not only so, but it is unmanly to ask woman to bear her share of the cares and responsibilities of life, and also to assume man's position as provider. Female competition is not only unwise, but it is unfair, for women as a rule look upon marriage as proper and probp'ole. It being so, her employment is looked upon as a temporary expedient, liable at any time to be exchanged for domestic duties. This being so, a lower scale of remuneration than that paid to the other sex is justifiable, for as the provider of his family a man has to apply himself continuously to his avocation. The employment of women in industrial and other pursuits, necessitating a continuous mental or physical strain, is found to be injurious to the health of v. sex and vigour of the community, owing 10 periodical rest being essaitial to their welfare. In England and France endeavours are made to prevent tie evil effects resulting from the employment of women in factories, by providing creches for the reception of children, the mothers being allowed to nurse them at stated times. Infantile mortality is, however, very great, and family life is demoralised, thus entailing misery and sin. In France 10,000 conscripts were drawn from ten manufacturing deEartments, of whom 99C0 were rejected as eing unfit for military service, while from 10,000 conscripts drawn from ten agricultural departments only 4000 were rejected. The same evil effects are to be seen in out Australasian cities, wl.ile in our midst mothers have retained charge of public schools until within a diort time of their confinement, a position which is unnatural for any woman to fill in such a condition. Upon economic grounds female competition is also undesirable, for how can we use to better advantage our increased power of production resulting from the use of machinery, than by relieving woman from labour unsuited to her sex ; thus increasing her leisure, and enabling her to devote more time to the cultivation of those feminine graces and talents which go so far to make the world attractive and joyous. In connection with education, may we not consistently demand that women should be technically educated, in order that she may perform the natural functions of her sex with honour to herself and advantage to society; let more attention be given to the laws of health, the economical use of means at command, and the thousand and one things included under the term domestic economy. This knowledge will form a good foundation, and go hand in hand with true culture and refinement, and at the same time solve the question of female employment, for hundreds of youugmen who now look askance at matrimony as an expensive luxury, would soon be found in the ranks of the benedicts, and recognise that each sex in its own sphere, is superior to the other, and that the world is all the better by the union of interests. If distinct spheres are recognised as being in the nature of things right, there is no infringement of personal liberty, by demanding that each sex shall confine itself to its legitimate duties and responsibilities. For those restless and erratic souls who, in the name of reform, would turn heaven and earth upside down, there can be no ;law. From them, however, we may learn the lesson that change is not always beneficial, and that chaos may be introduced in the name of liberty and equality, even in the relations of the sexes.—l am, &c., Edmund Bell. Auckland, September 15, 1890.