BRITAIN’S FIRST WOMAN MEMBER

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 80, Issue 92, 20 April 1938, Page 3

BRITAIN’S FIRST WOMAN MEMBER

Viscountess Astor, M.P., who First Entered the House of Commons in 1919, Speaks of the Reception She was Accorded and How Her Difficulties were Gradually Overcome

did I think when I left my happy home in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia and came to England to fox-hunt that I should find myself addressing the House of Commons and having to work far harder there than ever I did when I rode to hounds, said Viscountess Astor, M.P.. in a recent broadcast address. And I was what they called a hard rider, and I adored it. However, I am not going to give you the story of my life, it might make you weep or it might make you laugh. Like most other life stories it would probably do both; but don't be afraid. As I say. I am not going to give it to you nor will I ever write it. I personally don't believe that many lives are worth writing about, and certainly mine isn't. But I will tell you this: I have often wondered how that long step from Virginia to the Mother of Parliaments came about, and why I was the one to step it. Maybe it was because Virginia was England s first overseas venture, so it is really not surprising that Virginians should be venturesome, and that one should come home, not I hope to roost or to boost, and certainly not to crow, but to carry out another great English adventure, and one of faith, for women to enter the House of Commons. I don’t believe that I could have got there or stopped there unless I had been born into this English way of thinking. And how grateful I am for that! I mean grateful for being born into it. because it is progressive, fearless and free, but it is not lawless. Now, as I see it, this English way of thinking began when Tyndall, one of our most useful martyrs, determined to translate the Bible into the common tongue and give it to the common people. And once this common people began to read the Bible and think for themselves they became a very uncommon people, and, above all, a free people. They began to protest; they protested against what was wrong in themselves and in the community, and I believe they will never cease to do that so long as they read the Bible and strive to understand its teachings and follow them. It's the very basis of our freedom and great social progress. Our progress, apparently, is not fast enough for some other countries. They tell us that they found a quicker and a better way. But have they? We still have our freedom and our reforms are steadfast. Nurse Cavell said that patriotism was not enough, and she was right. And I think that we can say that economics isn't enough, and I think we are right. There's a spirit in man, and real progress can only be spiritual progress, and that is what I call the English way of thinking. Now the Bible certainly inspired the women reformers of the early nineteenth century. They protested against the wrongs of humanity and the subjection of women. It was their fight that eventually made it possible for me to become that venturesome and troublesome thing, the first woman in the British House of Commons. I always knew that it was no merit of my own: it just had to be; but when I look back over the last nineteen years and see what their venturesome vision and courage has done for this country, I am proud to belong to the race. Now some men, of course, had vision—some, I don't say all —and the late Arthur James Balfour was one of them. He believed in women as citizens, and helped them in every way. Winston Churchill, on the other hand, did all he could to stop them

and was equally fearless and courageous in fighting to keep them out of the House of Commons—and I am delighted that he lost and we won. When I first entered the House—and, by the way, Mr. Balfour and Mr. Lloyd George introduced me and were both very shy at having to do so—it was exactly like entering a man’s club. The House of Commons has often been called the best club in Europe. Well, it certainly didn’t seem the best club to me. In fact, I can’t think of anything worse in the way of having a good time than being among 600 men none of whom really wanted you there. Of course, theoretically they believed in equality, but a woman in their club!—oh, no, that was too much. I don’t blame them. No doubt we, as women, would have felt the same way, and probably have behaved far worse, if we had had it for all those years to ourselves. Winston Churchill whom I knew quite well, like many other Members of the House whom I knew intimately.

simply could not bring himself to speak to me once I was in the House. But after about two years I met Winston at dinner, and he congratulated me on my performance. I asked him why he hadn't spoken to me before, and he replied: “We thought that if we could freeze you out we would get rid of the lot.” I asked: "Why did you want to get rid of the lot?” "Well,” replied Winston, “when you entered the House of Commons I felt as though some woman had entered my bath and I had nothing to protect myself with except my sponge!” I believe he was quite right. It really made the male members shiver, and it also made me shake, though mercifully they knew it. Womanlike, I could hide my shivers, and w'hen I was most shaky I appeared to be most brazen. Thank goodness they never realised it. And, you know, in spite of their shivers and my shakes I must say they behaved with great fairness, and with

what the late Henry James called “this dauntless decency of the British.” I used to think that they might break my spirit and they might freeze me out, but they could never break what I was standing for. This new English adventure —of making women citizens, taking them out of the class of criminals, lunatics, paupers and peers—that idea was like John Brown's soul, it was marching on and nothing could stop it. And by the way, how many people realise that Peers have no Parliamentary vote?—they cannot vote in a general election and they are still classed as paupers, criminals and lunatics. And no doubt, being a very democratic assembly, there may be some—but I don’t think many—who could qualify for each classification. I really could talk for hours about the House of Commons. I could tell you what a fair and free place it is, with its funny old customs and very useful traditions. For instance, it is wise to have to address the Speaker and not the Opposition directly when you make a speech, and it is wise also to have to refer to the Honourable Members as Honourable Members and not by name. It often protects you from calling them by names which are far from honourable, particularly in the heat of debate! I used to go up once a week to a Y.M.C.A. hall in London and speak to the men who were just back on leave from the Front. You see, 1 had to tell them about the dangers of the big town in wartime, and I began in this way. I would draw a picture of what they called a good time —money to spend, drink, temporary sweethearts, and the consequences, and I painted it pretty strong; and then I would remind them of their homes, their mothers, sweethearts and wives, and how they were praying for them and longing for their return; and I would say: “We can give you a really good time, one that you can write home about. If you will come up and give me your money we will guarantee you a splendid time: so any of you who want to do it come up and I'll take your money.” I member quite well one great, long, lanky fellow coming up to me and saying: “Here. lady, take my money; you’ve ruined my holiday.” Well, I am afraid that I have been trying to ruin a lot of holidays that way. and my views on Temperance have not abated one jot; and that's why many Members of Parliament will tell you that I am more a nuisance than a blessing. All I tell them is. that until they can show me homes made happier by drink, I shall go on my sober way and pray for followers. But I have come to the conclusion that we sober people don't always speak so soberly. That reminds me of David Kirkwood, a perfectly sober but very fiery Member of Parliament from Glasgow. One night he was making a most provocative speech amusing us all. There was nothing he didn't say about us, and I knew he didn’t mean half of it; so as I passed him I muttered: “Go it, comrade; that’s the stuff to give ’em.” Whereupon he stopped, shook his fist at me. and addressed the Speaker in no measured terms: “Mr. Speaker, Mr. Speaker—the woman, the woman, she's come to irritate me. I ne'er could stand Jews or women.” But that's not true; he stood us both with right good humour, and it’s wonderful how good-natured this old Mother of Parliaments is. As I see it, it's all because of this English way of thinking. There’s no hate in it—and don't forget it’s based on the Bible.