WOMEN AND PEACE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 12699, 22 July 1919, Page 7

WOMEN AND PEACE.

Woman's realm lias enlarged conspicuously since war began, and it is the management of this widened territory that will form one of y the big problems of the immediate future (says “ Doorrnouso ” in the “Sydney Morning Herald-”,) A result of the last four years of turmoil has been the recognition, hv man of woman's ability in other than domestic capabilities. His attitude towards her has changed, in many instances from kindly indulgence to that of profound admiration. Aforetime he had often heard that when occasion warranted it, _ woman was capable of splendid heroism. Now she bos proved if- The women of England who made the shells that beat the Runs were not simply courageous women, High couro-g.6 is a.t\ attiiMit'O of the soul. They were also practical women possessed of industrial gencc of such an order that perfect mastery of their work had been attained by them after an almost ).u----conceivahlv short period of tuition. The W.A.A.0.5., who have, been doing solid service right up h\ the Flanders trenches were not simply courageous women. They were women of steadfast purpose, quick intelligence, and technical skill. There the girl who at home had been fraid of a mouse in the wail, listened unconcernedly to the fury of the Flanders cannonade. She had her work to do. Now this sudden arrival of womanhood to manhood’s industrial status, carries with it a problem, the solution of which will require the earnest thought of wise heads the world overFor four strenuous years women have shouldered many n man’s task, and shouldered it successfully. The positions have carried with them considerable independence and good' salariesNow that the war is over a largo number of these women ore not going to sink bade into a life of inertia. They! arc not going to fold their hands while the vacuum cleaner methodically _ cuts out the housework and the pianola provides better music than they can ever hope to make. There was a time when household duties provided quite a busy career for the majority, but modern invention has altered all that. Now three, or even two, women in a house provide a superfluity of labour. Outside, on th© other hand, woman has found that interesting work can be got to consume her energy and benefit her pocket, and sbe is not going to let it go. Hera, then, lies the problem, for many of the men coming hack from the ■war will expect to take up again the work reliquislied at the call to arms. In order that womanhood may not become the rival, hut rather the helpmate of manhood in the industrial arena, a. readjustment of world-wide commercial life will have to be undertaken. It is while these plans for readjustment are in th© melting-pot that the guiding hand of moderation will be most necessary. If woman becomes intoxicated. with thcjmliiaucy of her recent successes and dashes pellmell into an arena already seething with post-war difficulties, she will not only lose ground, but she will, harden the hostility that still faces her. Let it he remembered that move has been done during the last four years to establish woman’s true status in the mind of the world than all the generations of “suffragism” have accomplished between them, ’lho moment has arrived now for her to entrench herself in her new position, and, while resting on her laurels, to see to it. that, in” the general readjustments for peace, what she has she holds.