WOMEN POLITICIANS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVI, Issue 17276, 27 September 1919, Page 10

WOMEN POLITICIANS.

CHANCES OF NEW BILL. M.PJS AMUSING SPEECH. [BY TELEGRAPH.SPECIAL REPOBTEB,] WELLINGTON, Friday. The frankest and most outspoken speech on the Bill to admit women to Parliament was that made by Dr. A. K. Newman (Wellington East). Speaking of the chances of women gaining seats in the next Parliament, Dr. Newman said: "There is only one seat I hope no woman will win, and that is Wellington East. I bar that."

He added that he had no doubt that the measure would pass the House, but it might not fare so well in " another place." _ "You know, they are pretty conservative there," he. said, " and I don't know whether, in sporting parlance, the Bill is a 'trier' or merely out for an airing." In more serious vein, Dr. Newman said that in a report of the recent municipal conference it had been remarked that a lady in a picture-hat had made a speech. " I don't know why it was put like that," he said, " because, in my opinion, it wag the beet speech made at that conference. I don't know this lady. I have never spoken to her. She came from Auckland, but I say that that speech could not have been excelled in ability by any member of this House." (Hear, hear.) Concluding, Dr. Newman said that when in England some years ago he had heard many arguments against giving women the vote, but only one that seemed to have any force behind it. That argument was put by a man who said that he did not think that women were fit to choose membens of Parliament, because they chose such funny specimens of men for husbands. (Laughter.)