WOMEN PROTEST

New Zealand Herald, Volume 80, Issue 24531, 13 March 1943, Page 4

WOMEN PROTEST

GIBES IN PARLIAMENT LIVING COSTS CAMPAIGN (Cf.C.) WELLINGTON. Friday Strong objection to what were described aa " nasty things said about tliem" during a Parliamentary debate was voiced at a meeting of about 130 women at Khandallnh yesterday afternoon to continue vigorously the campaign against the high cost and comparative scarcity of fruit and vegetables. The meeting decided by resolution that it was neither necessary nor appropriate for politicians to instruct in their duty the women who were protesting against wastage and mismanagement. The president of the Wellington Women's Service Guild, Mrs. J. Henderson, presided. Owing to recent statements which had been made, she said, she wanted to make it perfectly clear that the guild, which had existed for 25 years, had always considered in the broadest aspect any problems which had come before it, and had never participated as a body in party politics. Silly Remarks Over Air

They had worked amicably and prudently, said Mrs. Henderson. It was unfair that people should be able to make trumpery, cheap, petty and personal gibes at others who had not the opportunity to defend themselves. Members of Parliament had made silly observations and gibes over the air when they knew that women citizens had not the same facilities to refute their remarks. Deploring the wastage that was still going on, Mrs. J. C. Anderson said "this marketing business has become a stupidity." They had thought the Government would bo pleased if they could discover and show them food being thrown on to dumps in wastage. Instead, explanations and recriminations had followed, whilo the wastage was still going on. Pertinent Questions

Why were 5000 cases of second-grade apples kept till they had to be destroyed? How was it that there was no cheap fruit available for jam-making? There appeared to be a great deal of war profiteering going on by people who were interested in keeping up prices. Several resolutions were adopted by the meeting, one of them being as follows: —"That this meeting makes a strong protest against the unwarranted personal statements and aspersions cast on women citizens during the present Address-in-Keply debate; as the proceedings are broadcast, this meeting is of the opinion that Mr. Speaker should he asked to ensure that personal attacks and aspersions on citizens are forbidden; they also consider that listeners should not have their interest in proceedings marred by avoidable noises such as conversation, and loud and persistent coughing."