BACHELOR’S WOES.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19033, 1 December 1923, Page 16

BACHELOR’S WOES.

IN OUTBACK AUSTRALIA. WANTS STATE MATRIMONIAL BUREAU. (Feom Ode Own CoeiHespondent.) SYDNEY, November 22. The plaintive terms of a letter from a lonely bachelor settler in a distant port of Western Australia in recounting the difficulties of attracting a fair partner to share the joys and trials of such a life evoked much unsympathetic merriment from members of tjio State Parliament when read by Mrs Cowan, Australia’s only lady legislator, last week. So uproarious did some members become in inverse to the dolefulness of the epistle that Mrs* Cowan was at length compelled to appeal to the chair for a “fair deal.” The writer, an immigrant, who had been sent to the wheat belt, after complaining at great length that no girl could be induced to marry a farmer and adopt a life in the country, went on to suggest that “strong, able-bodied women should be brought from Britain as wives for farmers, and a Government matrimonial bureau established for farmers requiring wives.” “Another Government enterprise,” interpolated the Leader of the Opposition.” “The woman must bo of a certain standard. not weeds,” Mrs Cowan read on. “He needs to be put into a mental homo himself,” murmured an hon. member, moved to his remark by the fact that Mrs Cowan had just previously been discussing the treatment of tile ment.nllv deficient. There was a great deal of talk and laughter and noise at this stage. Mrs Cowan paused, looked over her glasses, and surveying the House with an air of asperity, said: “I don’t know whether I am in order, but it does seem to me that members should give me a fair deal. There is always a considerable amount of interruption and conversation around me when I am speaking. I don’t wish to have to apologise to the House in any way or to suggest that members are oilier than gentlemen, but I would like a fairer bearing than members seem to he willing to give me as a woman. I therefore appeal to you, Mr Chairman, j to see that they keep order.” The Deputy-Chairman of Committees (Mr Angelo); I will see that the hob. member is not interrupted. The House rebuked, hushed to silence and listened with interest as Mrs Cowan road further complaints from the bachelor migrant who figured it out that with work on the farm and having to cook his meals overv day, and to cook, wash, and mend on Sunday, he had only 1A hours a .day to himself, whereas if he had a wife ho could save 20 hours a week. Members began to grow amused and restive again, and relieved the tension by laughing heartily ns Mr Marshall remarked; “Shows what little he knows about married life.” “Books and papers are no substitute for a wife.” Mrs Cowan read on. “Poor lonely darling No wonder he can’t get married. Mother’s boy,” remarked the Leader of the Opposition, amidst more laughter, In desperation Mis Cowan turned her atteni'on to the next business, the close season for opossums.