UNGRACIOUS MALE “REFORMERS”

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVI, Issue 8190, 3 August 1912, Page 4

UNGRACIOUS MALE “REFORMERS”

How sharper than a serpent’s tooth it is To have a thankless child. Away, away 1

It is with an indignation that we can hardly control that we record an act of unpardonable, of base, black ingratitude. We have in our midst a branch of the Women’s Political Reform League. Promoted by Mrs Snhoch—whose association with politics dates back several years—the league started with a membership of fourteen. This hardy little band went to work on a plan of campaign of extreme originality, and, fighting down an almost intolerable wall of public apathy, and with the eventual aid of some of the very nicest people, and with the assistance of a fighting fund towards which the Labor unions were not called upon to subscribe a single penny, they became so strong and resourceful that they were able to practically take control of the whole of the machinery of the Wellington electorates. Working “from early dawn to blackest night” they started on a campaign from house to house and from door to door, giving all who would listen the advantage of a profound knowledge of politics, and not hesitating to exercise all

their powers of imagery in depicting the horrors which had fallen on the community by reason of the unprincipled retention of office by the Continuous Ministry. They “ cheered the faint-hearted,” ‘‘brought up the waverers,” and even went to the extent of deciding “ who must shout with the winning crowd,” and eventually, when enthusiasm was burning at every taper—and despite the passive resistance of the great majority of the mere men candidates —they organised a rally or a demonstration which filled the AVellington Town Hall to overflowing. The extent of their abnegation is graphically depicted by the league’s president in these poignant phrases: "That the huge success of the meeting bad a beneficial effect is undoubted! All the expenses were borne by the league! The women behaved nobly—effacing themselves —not even seeking a back seat on the platform 1 And many members had no seat!”. That was bad enough, but worse remains behind. Let the president give her own version: ‘‘l have since thought,” she says, with reminiscent bitterness, “ that effacement of ourselves was a mistake—for not one word of acknowledgment from the candidates, with the one exception —oh. odious hiatus—ever reached a member of the league ”11 Well, well, well I These are your pretty gentlemen. These are the superior persons! These are the “ Reformers.” Truly the age of chivalry has passed. It is no wonder that there should be an addendum, an inevitable P.S., to Mrs Newman’s message—the most eloquent, the most stinging P.S. that w© have ever had'on public record. It is this: “ For future guidance I urge you, as women, to object to he. merely canvassing agents; and to insist on the right of initiative.” We should think so indeed—after that!