Removal of Women’s Disabilities.

White Ribbon, Volume 6, Issue 66, 1 November 1900, Page 4

Removal of Women’s Disabilities.

Petition forms addressed to both the Houses of Legislature, and praying that the disabilities of women may be removed, are now in course of preparation, and will shortly be issued to the branches of our N. Z l nions and to the various women’s societies. It is hoped-that each Union will appoint a superintendent who will take charge of the petition, and that each member will do her best to obtain the signatures of women thereto The following is the text

The Petition of the Undersigned \Y OMENO F N E W /' E A LAND II U M B L Y Sheweth: That in a free community the laws should be in the direction of giving each of its members equality of opportunity. That in the best interests of the State, every human being should be free to enter upon such duties and honourable occupations as may be suited to his or her natural or acquired capacity. That only by such freedom can the State obtain the fullest economic and social value of its citizens. That the legal restraints now placed upon the freedom of women exclusively imply a sense of inferiority, and are

dishonoring to the womanhood of the i community. That there is no evidence that wo- 1 men need greater legal restraint than do men

That the removal cl the Civil and Political Disabilities of women is a logical sequence to the extension of the franchise to them.

W e therefore pray your Honourable House that it will take such steps as are necessary for the removal of the Civil and Political Disabilities of Women. And your Petitioners, as in duty bound, will ever pray.