Feminine Views on State Problems.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XLVI, Issue 12, 22 March 1911, Page 62

Feminine Views on State Problems.

A NOTABLE CONFERENCE. LONDON, February 3. Prior to the opening of Parliament, the Labour Party is holding its annual conference, and, as Labour has always extended to women full recognition, the Women’s Labour League assembled at the same time in Leicester as did their lords and masters! The Women’s Labour League is a somewhat new body. It is, in fact, the creation of Mrs. Ramsay Macdonald (who will be well remembered as visiting New Zealand with her eminent husband) and was definitely formed some few years ago to emphasise, more than the women members of the Independent. Labuor party could while unorganised, the importance of the work, Also, it set definite aims before the women in the labour party in the work they could properly undertake.

This year, for instance, they have discussed the Peace question, and Restriction of Armaments, the effect of the Osborne Judgment, the proceedings of the Royal Commission on Divorce, the work of Labour Exchanges, the Suffrage-adult v. Women’s Co-operative Housekeeping an<l School Clinics. Under these heads women assembled in -their own parliament were able to analyse the present position, and clear the way for decision on a line of action to be taken by the Women’s Labour party. For this body is not merely deliberative, but is a lighting organisation, giving much time ami energy to helping Labour candidates in obtaining constituencies. Hence their discussion of the Osborne Judgment in all its bearings as to how it would affect their work in keeping up the party’s strength in St. Stephen’s. THE FRANCHISE, to enters into this domain of its activities, for it must be decided whether the Women’s Labour League should be a whole-hearted supporter of Adult Suffrage for both sexes, or he content with small- and decide momentarily

to give its support to the vote as it is or- may be granted to men. On this question Dr. Marion Phillips, an Australian seholar of some eminence, defended the Adult Suffrage resolution in an able speech. She said the discussion on the Conciliation Bill in the House of Commons had convinced her that the old suffrage policy was out-of-date. When Mr. Lloyd George excused his antagonism to the Bill on the ground that it was undemocratic, it was time the Labour women, at any rate, went a step further in their demands. Dr. Etehl Bentham, a prominent doctor spoke in the same strain. She said she would have voted for the amendment a year ago, but the course of events had demonstrated the futility of working for anything less than adult suffrage. On the' subject of COOPERATIVE HOUSEKEEPING a member pointed out how small holders had come to realise the value of co-op-erative effort in their common needs, and she urged that women in the home should follow their example, citing eases where the experiment had been tried, and attended with great ruccess. A Miss Price suggested that co-operative laundry work would be particularly valuable. A resolution in favour of co-operative housekeeping was adopted. I&'isb i Kerri; >:i and Dr. Ethel Bentham emphasised the importance of the proper provision for child birth in bringing forward a moti.-n i,'<<!■>.■ "■ T.: l our Party to introduce ; bill providing free meals to expectant mothers and free medical attendance, under the Public Health Authority, of a fully qualified doctor, for all women at the time of child birth. Both related sad incidents of unnecessary suffering and deformity caused by neglect of women at this time. After a moving appeal by another speaker the resolution was passed with unanimity. On the question of DIVORCE AND MARRIAGE Sister Kerrison’s words are worth quoting. “We feel very strongly the injustice and inequality from which our own

sex suffers,” she said. “The husband can obtain divorce by proving his wife unlir'i ful, th;, wo pen inq-t pray/ actual physical cruelty, however unfaithful her seem to realise that there is a cruelty worse than physical pain. We believe in the sanctity of the marriage state,; it is because of that we ask e quality for poor and rich, for woman and man.” Besides making this demand for equality, Sister Kerrison’s resolution advocated the removal of matrimonial cases from the police court, and the setting up of machinery providing for the payment of maintenance orders through an officer of the court, who should be responsible for its.collection in case of default. The Executive also moved a resolution which was passed unanimously in favour of women sitting on juries. Other subjects dealt with included school clinics, the State provision of higher education for all classes the erection of public wash-houses, the establishment of municipal lodginghouses for women, national care of the feebleminded, and the State maintenance, of necessitous’ widows apart from Poor Law relief. And thus ended the most successful conference yet held by the Women’s Labour League. “On every hand,” the president said in her opening speech, “women are awakening to their responsibilities and opportunities. From the old and oft-repeated truth that woman’s place is the home, women are learning through their work in the League that it is not only desirable but possible for every woman to have a home worthy of the name.” A MATRIMONIAL SCHOOL. Is the latest experiment in education, and according to advice from America in the St. Louis district of the United States, at any rate, much of the magic and mystery, and most of the innumerable inconsistencies of love and marriage, will be reduced to eold, logical, Q.E.'D form, After this, there will no longer be any excuse for an amusing marriage—or for a tragic one, for that matter. The whole thing is being tackled in a most business-like spirit. A matri-

monial school is being publicly formed, and psychologists, lecturers, scientists', physicians, and ministers have been engaged as a faculty, and will deliver regular weekly lectures to classes of young people who are contemplating, or who have already crossed the Rubicon of matrimony. ■ “You don’t mean to tell me that you're going to wear a mixture of red, brown, and yellow puffs?” “For one evening only,” replied the bride. “I had these made from the various locks of hair that my husband had on hand when I married him. The original donors will all be at the ball to-night.” - - - .