WOMEN IN PARLIAMENT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 21029, 13 November 1931, Page 12

WOMEN IN PARLIAMENT.

Sir —The ever recurring question of the advisability of women taking a direct part in government is again before us. We have almost daily reminders that New Zealand women after nearly 40 years of political enfranchisement have no woman representative in Parliament. Since no arguments are brought forward against a woman taking her place as_ a legislator, and the machinery exists tor putting her there, one naturally wonders v.-hv she is not in Parliament already. Well, for one thing, only four or five so far have contested elections. The electors have had very little choice, so the blame cannot be fairly laid on them. To vote for a candidate merely because she is a woman is too much to ask of any intelligent, voter, male or female. Certainiv t arliament. would be better for the inclusion of women, but a woman v;ho «eeks election on the above grounds onlv is courting disaster. The present need is for legislators of wide vision and practical ability—sex should not be brought into the question at all. The. reasons why more women do not come forward ate not hard to find. Many are too busy with their families or are economically debarred from taking part, in an election as a candidate. Many are still dominated bv the men-folk of their household or political partv. While fashion and foibles hold women in thrall we may look m vain among them for possible law-makers. Having all they require from life they refuse to exert themselves on behall of the community. We have women's club's and organisations galore, but the largest of these—representative of practically all NewZealand women—can produce only one candidate. B.