WOMEN—WHY NOT?

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 16840, 11 September 1920, Page 5

WOMEN—WHY NOT?

TO PREVENT, INDUSTRIAL WARFARE. (Contributed by tho N.Z. Welfare League.) Women are concerned in the stability and progress of our industries just as well as men. They probably suffer more from the shortage of coal supplies, inadequate housing and the dearth of 'common,necessities. Why .should they ‘ suifef, iif,.silence or tail to bo heard upon matters that so vitally, affect themselves and'their .children f t We read, with pleasure in connection with the proposed miners’ strike in Great Britain that “the Portsmouth Women’s National Political League is strenuously striving, to avert a strike, and is organising a, conference or miners’ and transporters’ wives in London with-a view to proposing that thp wives, equally 'with riie husbands,'par-. •Ticipato in strike ballots”; also, that ‘‘many similar conferences are being arranged in. tho provinces.” That is a practical declaration ■ for “women’s rights” and entirely justifiable. It is lund to see bow Labour men, who in their councils talk much about equality of the sexes, will be able to withstand such a demand. Some in New Zealand may bo inclined to regard this news as a fit subject for humour, but we regard • it entirely in a serious light, and commend niost heartily the courage of these English women Who arc fighting for tho family life of their country.

After all who is it that suffers most in many of these industrial upheavals? It is the wife and mother. Even the married man is not so hard hit when a serious strike is on as his wife is. The man goes out and meets his mate,' ho is buoyed up with the excitement and unfortunately at times is apt to forget his wife, who is tied to the house, such as it maybe, and is eating tier heart out as to how they are going to make ends meet for the children and themselves. You see we put the children first, for that is where mother puts them, even more than father. To go on strike is often a light matter of consideration for men where they are congregated in largo industries; this is especially the case with many young single, men. Where mpro lads or young single nfien attached to the mining industries, or transport such as waterside worp, have power to vote for or against striking they are likely to he a source of considerable gauger. Not because they want to do any wrong, but mainly because they are not weighted with the responsibilities that make a man think. A specious plea, a few exciting speeches or conversations and many of them will launch into a strike as if it was a glorious adventure. With men, on occasions, going on strike is just indulging in the excitement of an “industrial spree.” It is the women folk at home who know the full tragedy of strikes. What pain and dread the woman experiences who day by day feels the drawing near of a lowering in tho social scale (the thing all women .shrink from), or the probable breaking up of the homo. Short even of these tragic experiences . women can. suffer much in the shortening, of supplies, the cutting off of this little comfort or the other, refusing the children some of tho most common things that others can have. If tho strike extends there is added tho indignity of securing supplies by strike coupons, as. if living on charity, which makes the sensitive woman fairly shiver. Yes, women have a right, a full measure of right to bo heard on the question of “whether a strike shall take place or not.” Take even the short three days’ strike on the Wellington wharves —wo know specific instances where, because of that stoppage elderly women were forced to stay in bed the whole of the time on account of iiie cold. Did the men who refused work, which they afterwards did without suffering or loss, think of the hardship others would suffer before they struck ? AVe fear not.

The example of these English women who are trying to prevent the national capacity of a great coal strike, we strongly recommend the Women’s National Council, and all , women’s societies, to consider. There are the coal mining disputes, the sugar industry dispute and the too frequently reenrrin " stoppages of work on onr waterfronts” It is time the women’s societies and councils expressed themselves on these matters. Let the women tell us just how these things are affecting the home life of the nation. The keepers of our homos are best qualified to speak on this subject, and we trust to find New Zealand women taking a more outspoken part in regard to these industrial affairs than has yet been thb cause. They have a right to, and that right should be exercised to the fullest.