The White Ribbon. For God and Home and Humanity. MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 1913. FRANCHISE DAY (Sept. 19th).

White Ribbon, Volume 19, Issue 219, 18 September 1913, Page 9

The White Ribbon. For God and Home and Humanity. MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 1913. FRANCHISE DAY (Sept. 19th).

Id olden days the Israelites were commanded by Jehovah to erect altars to commemorate great national events. “When your children shall ask their fathers in time to come, saying, What mean these stones? then ye sha.’l let your children know" such and such a great event happened here.

In modern times it has become a custom to commemorate the day on which any special event happened. Americans still celebrate “Independence Day,” and our own Dominion rejoices to remember Trafalgar Day. Surely, then, it is but fitting that the W.C.T.U., the largest women’s society in thi-. Dominion, should hold high carnival upon the anniversary of September igth, iSg3, for then . “the freedom of a sex began.”

For years before many of our X.Z. women had been organising, educating, agitating, and striving to elect members to our House of Representatives who would support a measure to place woman on an equality with man m the matter of voting, instead of treating her as a perpetual minor. Their efforts, and those of the band

of broad-minded and brotherly men, who fought their battle on the floor of the House, were at length crowned with success. On September igth, ißc>3, the Bill became law, and the Manhood Suffrage of the past was succeeded by the Adult Suffrage of todav.

We are sometimes told that “all things that are right are not expedient.” We think few question the abstract right of the adult female to exercise her vote, but many were found who questioned the expediency of it. If women had a vote they would send the country “to the dogs.” They would exhibit a maximum of fads with a minimum of commonsense. So perhaps it is as well to look back and see the trend of legislation during the past 20 years. We think every student of our laws must admit that during this period our legislation has been distinctly humanitarian. Laws many and various have found their way to the Statute Book, a large proportion of them being for the betterment of the conditions of life for women and children. Let u> glance at some of these enactments.

First, as to the care of young children, Infant Life Protection Act (the Act to regulate the adoption of children). NX. never has had, like our big neighbour, Australia, baby-farm-ing on a large scale, but these Acts safeguard the lives of those who are helpless, and prevent unprincipled people taking charge of unwanted babies with a sum of money down, and then allowing their little charges to die for want of care, even if thexdo nothing worse. Many of our women are wageearners, or mothers of wage-earning daughters, and it is only natural they should desire to improve the conditions under which they labour. Hence the Shop Assistants’ Act, the Factories’ Act, and the Servants’ Registry Offices Act.

In spite of much that has been dpne, there is much still left to do. We have a vote, but we are not allowed a free choice in election, be-

cause no woman is allowed to stand f«»r our suffrages. I his is an evil not only to the individual, but to the State, which is deprived of the services of half its electors. At one

time members of certain religious bodies were not eligible for members of Parliament; that i' of the past, and we claim that even as there i-> no sect m politics, mi there -h;ill be no sex cither in citizenship or politics. In many ca*e> we have inserted the “thin end of the wedge.” Women can now be elected upon our Hospital and Charitable Aid Boards, and so sick and needy sisters have those of their own sex to appeal to. By what logic, then, do we debar women prisoners from having members of their own sex on the jury and the Bench. They may have a woman lawyer, but a female Justice, Oh I dear no. Such an unheard of thing. My dear sisters, we are “heirs of all the ages.” Our forerunners have

won much for us, and we must do our best to improve still fyrther the conditions of life for those who follow us. We will never rest till all disabilities are removed; till every woman is allowed to do whatever she can do well. The highest office in the State, the Throne itself, can be filled, and has been ably tilled by a woman, and we must fight on till every other office is open to capable women, till dignity of character and ability to fulfil the duties of the office are the only requisites for every position in the State. Now the way to many positions is barred by the words, “No woman need apply.”

Fellow-workers, let us thank (iod and take courage. We are not in politics to neglect our homes, but to protect them. Much has been done for the protection of home and children, much remains to be done. Let us not think “all virtue’s in the past,” but let us try to get a free representation in Parliament as a means for other reforms. We want to see the mother co-guardian of her children ; we want economic independence for married women, the home she has worked »o hard to win held in partnership between man and wife, and in the event of the mother’s death, her half of the property to go to her children. This principle is already recognised in the Acts, Municipal Franchise, when the ratepayer and his wif v each have a vote, and the Old Age Pension Act, giving each an equal pension.

We are eagerly looking forward lo the time when N.Z. women shall stand beside theii husbands and brother:, their equal* economical!) and politically.