WOMEN IN SWEDEN

New Zealand Times, Volume LIII, Issue 12458, 28 May 1926, Page 5

WOMEN IN SWEDEN

Speaking of women’s progress in Sweden in recent years the I.W.S. states that in 1923 a law was passed admitting women to the Civil service, with tlie exception of police service, and any office connected with the maintenance of public order. In 1924 a new law was passed reorganising the whole system of child welfare. By this law the community becomes responsible for all children and young persons who are ill-treated or morally neglected. The central authority is vested in a permanent board tor child welfare, of which at least one member must be a woman. The age at which young persons can come under the care of the board has been raised to 16, in case of vice to 18. By tho Law of Nationality, passed in 1924, a Swedish woman does not lose her nationality on marriage with an alien until silo takes up residence in her husband’s country. Children of parents of different nationality take the mother’s nationality if under her special care. In 1925 two women members entered the Second Chamber of the Riksdag (Parliament), both belonging to tlio Social Democratic Party, and taking tlie seats of two deceased members of the same, party. In 1924 three women members were returned to the Second Chamber. A fourth woman member withdrew on account of ill-liealtli. Besides these, the First Chamber of the Riksdag has a woman member who has occupied her seat sine© 1921. Two women members have been elected substitutes of standing Parliamentary committees. Women are also eithir members or substitutes of one or several occasional committees within tho Second Chamber. In 1922 and 1923 elections to lie municipal councils took place. Two hundred and twenty-one women were eleoted town councillors; 98 of the elected women belong to the Conservative, 50 to the Liberal, 66 to the Social Democratic, and two to the Communist Party. To the rural municipal councils 481 women were elected.