PATER'S CHATS WITH THE BOYS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2080, 4 January 1894, Page 45

PATER'S CHATS WITH THE BOYS.

» Correspondence. I ought perhaps to alter my heading to 11 Chats With Boys and Girls," for lately I have been favoured with as many letters from the gentler as from the Bterner members of our young folk.

To-day I keep my promise and give my young readers a couple of their own contributions. It is a long time since I have allowed you to have an innings, but you have it at last. One is from a boy, the other from a girl, and you will have the opportunity of comparing the one with the other. Judging by the letters, which sex seems the more capable of exercising the franchise intelligently? Perhaps it isn't fair to pit these isolated writers one against the other ; but as neither knows who's who, and but few of yonknow either, it won't matter. " T. H. M.'b" letter I shall notice next week.

Dear Pater,— l think you made a mistake and did us girls an injustice when you said that girls do not read your notes, for I believe that it is generally found that girls are fonder of reading [Aye, of reading, but not my notes. — Pater ] than boys, and I am sure most of them read what you have written on the women's franchise.

I believe in the franchise being extended .to women, and I agree in a great measure with what you have written regarding it, but I must venture to disagree with you when you assert that it is a bold step. I think the bold step was taken when the franchise was conferred on a floating population who pay no direct taxes. Shearer*, swaggers, day labourers, &c., who are continually on the move — who are in Australia one week, and in New Zealand the next [Rather an exaggeration.— Pater ], have the right to make laws, and dictate to the settled population. If the colony encounters any financial difficulties, if times are hard and taxes — heavy, these men depart to more prosperous shores. They do not remain with 'us and help to pay the taxes and tide over our difficulties. These teen pay no direct taxes, and little indirectly, except on their grog and tobacco. Now women, on the other hand, have less facilities for travelling. They are far more settled, and not only do a great many women own property which is direotly taxed, but a woman's dress and the articles for her adornment which almost all women affect are very heavily taxed. I am proud to say, however, that the taxes she pays for grog' and tobacco are almost nil.

I do not doubt that, if we were able to compare the taxes paid by an average servant girl and shearer respectively, we should find the former had the greater amount to pay. Many shearers, certainly, spend the whole of their earnings, and

they are paid a high rate of wages, but then they only work about six months of the year, and the rest of the time go rambling about the country " looking for work [They don't want to find ? — Pater] and living on the settlers. [I quite agree with you, a large proportion of the population has not the right in equity to be put on an equality with the rest who have bound themselves to the colony by investments, marriage, &c. — Pater.]

I think with you that when men and women do the same work they should be paid the same rate of wages. It seems to me that women have had more cause in the past to demand work than men ; there are so few occupations open to them. Is it not strange that, unless in exceptional cases, a woman left with a family never [Seldom ?— Pater.] asks for assistance ? Women in the past have not swelled the ranks of the unemployed, and I do not 1 think they will do so in the future.

They seem to be able to earn a livelihood without strikes and agitations. A few years ago, when the'eountry was- in such a critical condition, when men on all 6ides were going out on strike, the women were silent. Had they no grievance or did they think—" It was better to endure the ills we have than fly to others Jihat we know not of " ? For my own part, I believe it was because they were far more sensible and contented than the men. — I am, &c, One Who Does Not as Yet Enjoy the Franchise. Stoney Creek. Dear Pater,— l am in favour of granting the franchise to women for the following reasons :—: — 1. They will assist to regulate the drink traffic. 2. It will give them an opportunity of passing laws beneficial to themselves. 3. It will increase interest in politics. 4-. Women's influence at home would direct the vote of their families to a great extent. — [Wouldn't that be an argument against women's franchise ? — Pater.] But I am not in favour of granting women a seat in Parliament for these reasons :—: — 1. Women are more impulsive than men, and would therefore be easier led by agitators who would have a tendency to hurry us on to extreme socialism. — [The last election doesn't favour this notion ; and aren't men led largely by agitators? — Pater ] 2. Women would not make good politicians, because politics have become a science that requires the severest of labour in studying works on political economy, trade, and commerce, and in saying the right thing at the right time. — [Late experience shows that women can study as hard as men and as successfully. — Pater.] 3. Whatever is given to them in the shape of law must be withdrawn from them in sympathy, for instead of their being companions, they have become rivals. — [Law gives what justice demands, so according to your idea, we d»y

treat women with injustice and then extend them our sympathy. — Patbr.] 4. Another disadvantage is : a large number of women who had risen in politics would get married and their talent be lost to the State — [Why P Mrs Fawcett and Mrs Marshall, both wives of economists of the first rank, and others have been positive helps to their husbands. — Pater. ]

5. Their foreign policy would be peace at any price. — [That remains to be proved. — Pater.] These are my views on the female franchise. — I am, &c, J. M. Wendon Valley, December 11.