A STRONG PERSONALITY.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 248, 23 November 1914, Page 4

A STRONG PERSONALITY.

MRS PHILIP SNOWDEN. There was a time wlieu women reformers were always associated in the public mind with appalling plainness of countenance and a disregard of dress that was regarded as almost criminal by their fashionable sisters.. But things have changed" since then, and the woman reformer of to-day has come to a realisation of the fact that an attractive appearance is not the least of hei weapons. Mrs Philip Snowdcn, who shared the honours of the civic, reception with her husband, lias been specially dowered by Mature with an arresting personality and an attractive appearance. And one feels quite sure (without in the least wishing to impute conceit, or egotism to her) that she tully realises what excellent assets they are That she was an exceptionally able woman, with clear-cut, practical ideas, and a. ready (low of language to convey them, evervone who had read her book, "The Feminist Movement," realised. Yet it is doubtful if any one ot her readers glimpsed the actual woman as she appeared at the reception this mornRatlier above than below the average heio-ht, with the colouring typical ot the /Englishwoman, Mrs Snowdcn arrests attention at once by her wonderful air ot vitalitv. When she speaks, the impression that she is a great deal more alive than most people, deepens. She has a ready wit, uutl could, if she chose, pliij upon the emotions of an audience as_a skilled musieian upon an instrument. So much for the personality of Mrs PJjihp Snowdcn. She is, as everyone knows, an ardent feminist, and a suffragette, although not a militant one. She disapproves ot crime and violence, but said that it was this very disapproval .which put the non-militants in a very awkward position —it made them appear to be on the side of the Government, which, Mrs Snowdcn observed, "behaved very badly and stupidly." So far from being on its side, they are as keen on the vote as any of Mrs I'ankhurst's followers, but they believe in different methods.

The acts of violence perpetrated by the militant women she deplored as giving the obstructionists such a handle against those who were working for the A r ote.

Mrs SnoAvden thinks that the granting of the suffrage to women in England was very near at hand when the Avar broke out. Noav, of course, the question has been dropped for the nonce, but when peace is 'declared,-.it Avill be revived, and then she is of opinion that they Avill stand a good chance of getting the long and ardently-Hesired vote. .Just now the suffragettes have turned their offices into hospitals, and are giving up their funds and their energies to working for the cause of Empire. The splendid Work they, and the other women of the Empire, are doing, will probably serA r e to convince the men that they must have the help of the women in any great national crisis, and that they are equally deserving of a voice in the legislation of the country.

One of tlie great planks of the feminist platform in England is equal pay for equal work. Just at present many men are amongst the unemployed in England because women usurped their plaees at a lower rate of pay. When there is a uniform rate for men and women alike (providing, of course, that they are equally competent.) this trouble will to a great extent disappear. With regard to New Zealand women, Mrs Snowden has gathered' the impression that they are disposed to forget the hard work spent in obtaining the vote, and arc inclined to slacken somewhat, They do not seem to have auy fixed political ideals. "But if," Mrs Snowdeu concluded, "a few women leaders were to arise, women of the required capability, what a splendid field they would have to work on!"