WOMEN IN PARLIAMENT.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXVI, Issue 20285, 20 April 1934, Page 9

WOMEN IN PARLIAMENT.

Conference Rejects Dual Representation. That women should not seek anything more than equality with men in contesting seats in Parliament, was the essence of the decision expressed by a majority of delegates to the National Council of Women’s Conference at yesterday’s session, when a report was read on the subject of complementary representation. The report was received, but the principles were not endorsed. The report was read by Miss E. Newton, of Auckland, and was the finding of an interim committee. The reading was taken in committee, but the conference resumed immediately after Miss Newton had spoken, and the discussion was taken in open meeting. Briefly, the idea of complementary representation as outlined was that women should be equally represented with men in Parliament, and to achieve that end the electorates should be made larger, and that each should elect one man and one woman. Miss Newton spoke to the report at some length in committee. An anomalous position arose immediately the conference resumed. The next business, which had been specially placed in that order by the executive, was the following remit from Wellington: ‘‘That this conference objects to dual complementary representation' on the ground that it is opposed to the fundamental principle that electors shall have an unfettered choice of rc presentation in Parliament.” Miss Kirk, in moving the remit, said that the council had always fought fet equal right? for women, and now it appeared that there was a move for the gaining of an advantage for women. ‘‘lt is just possible.” said Miss Kirk, ‘‘that the dual representat : on system might unearth some women of high qualification, but whi- are not those women standing for Parliament nowr” Mrs Pervman (Wellington) said that if dual representation -were advocated it would be an advertisement of the inferiority of New Zealand women to the women of other countries., It. would mean that they despaired of winning seats in Parliament straight out. Men’s Votes. Miss M. England (Wellington) said that men would vote for women if they respected their character and ability. She instanced the Lyttelton electorate and electorates in England, other Dominions and in America. A vote was taken, and the adoption of the report was defeated. Miss E. Chaplin then moved that the report should be formally received as a courtesy to Miss Newton, who had done a tremendous amount of valuable work on the subject, and also that the report should be forwarded to branches as an object for study. That motion was carried, and the conference proceeded with other business.