WOMEN IN PARLIAMENT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 21020, 3 November 1931, Page 12

WOMEN IN PARLIAMENT.

Sir,—Ore notable feature of the recent general elections in England is the large number oi women who have been elected to the Hoase of Commons. It is evident from the landslide in favour of the Coalition Ministry that the English electorsrealised they were faced with a crisis, both political and .economic, through which they could be safely steered only by a sane and efficient Legislature. They realised furthermore that most of the women candidates were amply qualified to deal with the situation and voted accordingly. Let us hope that efficient women are going to be brought forward at our coming election and given official recognition. The English people must think New Zealand women are very slow, but the fact is they are never given a chance. There is always some reason brought forward by the officials why women must again and again stand down for the men to.be given a chance; everything possible seems to be done to prevent our New Zealand women gaining a seat in Parliament. There are countless subjects on which 3 woman's viewpoint is invaluable. One of our greatest problems to-day is unemployment—it is serious and is steadily growing more. so. Steps have been taken to assist unemployed men. but for women nothing has been done, in spite of *be fact that they pay tho wages tax. Even a paltry £IOO that was promised to the Women's Unemployment Committee has taken, five months to come to hand. The Government ignores or conveniently forgets the proposals put forward by the women who take a prominent interest in the welfare of their sex, while the position becomes alarmingly acute. What a help just one woman in Parliament "would be to put : r orth woman's cause from a woman's point of view and insist that this problem be given the consideration which is its due. Women ! Get together and put forward a women's candidate if the Coalition Government is going to ignore us. as its predecessors have done. Young New Zealand Woman.