ANOTHER WOMAN M.P.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18459, 24 July 1923, Page 8

ANOTHER WOMAN M.P.

MRS. PKILIPSON'S WIN. J — J WELCOME IN. COMMONS. L - [from OT7B own correspondent.J ' 1 LONDON. Juno 15. I Sirs. Philipson is the third woman to i be elected as a member of Parliament, ■ the others • being Lady >Astor- 'and Mrs. • Wintrineharn. All three have won seats ; previously held by their husbands. Berwick was the first by-election since Mr. Baldwin became Prime Minister. It was ' rendered necessary through . the ! unseating of Mr, Hilton Philipson owing 'to certain irregularities on the part of his election agent. . ; Mrs. Philipson, who received a remarkably enthusiastic welcome at Alnwick and Berwick as the new M.P., was unable to make & speech owing to hoarseness, but she declared to friends that it* was riot ambition to be in Parliament which hud caused her to contest the seat, but a sense of duty. It would be her earnest endeavour to carry on- the good work which.' ■her husband had done. While her/victory seemed assured, nobody expected she would poll 2500 votes more than her combined opponents in a division which returned viscount Grey for many years, and .is now Conservative for the first time. The average voter regarded her husband's unseating as sheer bad luck. ' It was ' this wave of sympathy that - carried her in. She fought with courage ; and a good deal of vigour, making a■- 100 miles' four before her opponents had really awakened to the fact that the fight had begun. . ■ - , 1 ■

;7 It was as a motherly •woman dashing at the week-end to see her young children in London, and her telling of how, at a very early age, she became an orphan and had' to work hard to help to keep her younger brother and sister (some times without enough food to ealv), that Mrs. Philipson appealed to and won Berwick . men and women, especially J the women. . She made an intimate 7 appeal to the womenfolk, visiting : them in their houses. Her knowledge of : politics *is slight, her ; antagonism to Socialism being the strongest' weapon. But she has declared : " I will" never be a silent member." " Not Debarred by Sex. "I am the first member'of the theatrical profession who dared face a critical audience on the political stage," said Mrs Philipson. "It has not always been easy for me to listen to some of the remarks, made about women of my profession by those who sought to lower the prestige its members have won by , sheer work in erne of the hardest callings in ■; the world.' I think my election proves that all the exaggerations about sex prejudice are nonsense. * The women have shown that they can and will trust a fellow-woman. The men have proved that they realise that ! a woman in these days is 'toot debarred by her sex from upholding the British j traditions •of honesty and sportsmanship in political life." [ 7 The reception on her 'entry to the House was as cordial as ever she received before . the footlights. There was a crowded attendance of members, who were keenly interested in the ceremony of introducing I the new member. Government supporters, [ particularly,' were cheerful at their first | party win since the general : election'. A considerable number: of peers also attended, while the" public galleries were crowded, mostly with ladies, ; many of whomleft immediately.' after ' the ceremony of introduction was concluded. / Mrs. Philipson did not enter che Chamber until the close of questions, and she had only to stand at the Bar a couple of minutes before the Speaker invited members about to take their seats to come to . the table. . ■ ■

«. A Stately Figure. • I At the Bar she was joined by her sponsors, Colonel Leslie Wilson (Chief Government Whip) and. Sir T. Inskip (SolicitorGeneral), who has an intimate knowledge of the new member's constituency, having himself unsuccessfully contested it. While waiting for her, " call " Mrs Philipson chatted with several, . members. . -Immediately op her • lining ,up with her intro- i duceys, and bowing before • advancing toward ' the Chair, there; was a loud Outburst .of cheering, in which - all parties' cordially joined, except, perhaps, the National Liberals, ; whose > supporter : was unseated. t • " • , ' Nothing -more' remote from > the average conception of a musical comedy actress could ' be : imagined: i Nothing more stately could be conjured up than the entry of the little Woman . who v bad charmed the British public in her previous public - career. 'In the company of her escort;,; she . advanced 'to the Bar. H Gracefolly she bowed.; Then, with perfect^ deportmentj.' she advanced, • and there -was a long roll of Conservative cheers as ah® pwß6d to (tea fcsada with tho Speaker,'