THE WOMEN'S MOVEMENT.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 11717, 6 June 1916, Page 5

THE WOMEN'S MOVEMENT.

AN ADVOCATE IN CHRISTCHURCH. MISS PANKHURST'S VISIT. Miss Adela Pankhurst, who has come to lecture on the women's movement, is primarily a peace advocate, and, secondly, an advocate of every step to improvo women's social and industrial cond.tions. She is a young lady with a very pleasant and voice, and sho speaks readily on all public subjects that are occupying women's attention just now. Sho said to-day tliat she and her colleagues in different parts of the Empire wished most earnestly to 6ee tho end of the present war, but did not expect that their work would be finished then, as their object was to create a public opinion amongst tho nations' which.would make future wars impossible. In the meantime, she and her friends aro taking part in social movements of a less ambitious character. Sho has spent some time in Australia, where she has hor headquarters. There, she says, an effort is being made to bring about radical changes in social conditions. This, it is believed, can be done through political ' channels. Branches of the Women's Political Association o£ Australia have been established in all the States of the Commanwealth. Special attention is being given to the workers. Individual distress is relieved as far as possible, but this work, it is felt, is forced on the organisation. The main object in view is to bring in a general position in which distress amongst women and children will be greatly reduoed if not minimised, perhaps even rendered absolutely avoidable. The idea to prevenOrather than/ to ameliorate. Miss Pankhurst gives a very depressing description of the work- | ers' conditions in the Commonwealth, j She says' that the w n r has increased j the. prices of nearly all the staple comi modities. In addition to increased prices, rents have risen, and many poor people are suffering intensely. Speaking on the general principle of the women's movement, she said that | it had been profoundly affected by the ' war. In England, although the mili- / tant campaign had been abandoned by the suffragettes, they were more determined than ever to haveythe franchise tfor women. They were vatchinii with intense interest the attitude of tho Imperial Government towards retimed soldiers. It was felt that those men could not be refused the co/nplete franchise, and that if it i v as given to them it must also be given to womefi. There was a general belief that in all countries in the Empire whero women had stepped into soldiers' ivsitions on account of the war, a percentage of the women would remain in industrial life. If they did the same work as n-<n, they would be encouraged to demand the same wages; and they would be afeked to join the men's trades unions, and fight side by side with them in th© industrial battles which ..seemed to_ be inevitable after tho present terrible war with armaments was ended. _ln Australia women were being organised industrially, and educated industrially, in order that they would net te a drag on men, but would help them in the task of securing Conditions tLat would make lives of all brighter and happier: Miss Pankhurst has come to New Zealand nt,tho invitation of ladies htre. She enthusiastically n f her reception in Auckland and Wellington. Arrangements have been mncV for her to give several lectures in Christ church.