West Australian Women’s Parliament

White Ribbon, Volume 18, Issue 8, 1 September 1946, Page 1

West Australian Women’s Parliament

We offer our sincere congratulations to the women of West Australia who lta\e taken a great step forward in the formation of a “Women s Parliament.” This follows closely on the lines of the London Women’s Failiament which was formed in 1041 to mobilise women tor the war effort. Now it hopes to mobilise them for the maintenance of Peace.

Real equality of opportunity, and the removal of injustices, the pooling of ideas, joint planning and concert'd action; and education in regard to the \ital part to be played by women, with knowledge as to the power they possess when they act together, arc among the things for which it stands. West Australia has established its Parliament along similar lines. Under the aucpiccs of the Women’s Service Guilds, women of all organisations have joined, over lOt) becoming members within one

week of the formation The membership fee is 2/6. Splendid organisation is reported. The Organising Committee of 11 members dealt with the arrangements for the opening on Tuesday afternoon. April 2nd.

t his was a most successful function. I he Strangers’ Gallery was crowded. Mrs. Bromilow, as Governor. gave a most inspiring address. After referring to the London V\ omen’s Parliament, she went on: “I charge yon to emulate their efforts. 1 charge you to bear in mind the struggle of women throughout the ages, the al 1 -

too-slow emancipation of women from the slavery of the cave to the comparative freedom of these our days; to remember low. in some lands, even today, woman is looked upon as a chattel, a beast of burden: to recall the great women of the past Elizabetli Fry, Mary Somerville, Florence Nightingale. Millicent Fawcett. Josephine Butler. Mrs. Pankhtirst and her daughters, the mill-girl Annie Kelly, lady Constance Lytton, Emily I‘avidson and scores of others: remember them and their immeasurable influence on the progress of civilisation. I charge you to hold clearly the thought of what women have done on the warfront and on the home-front; their suffering, their fortitude and their untiring devotion to duty; to express in vour own actions the high hopes you entertain for the future of all women, when, hand in Land with tnen, they shall, as inevitably they must go forward. to that universal peace and prosperity, whose early beams vvc can see even now, timidly breaking over tli * far distant hills. “1 solemnly charge you to strive to the utmost in your erdeavour to reach the ideal of that Christ-like soul who said, ‘W ith malice towards none, with charity for all, vviili firmness in the right as God gives ns to see the right, let us hind up the nation’s wounds; and care for him who shall have borne the battle, and for his widow and orphans; and do all that which may achieve and cherish, in just and lasting

peace among ourselves and all nations.’ ” A rapid survey of the matters to be brought before the House in ensmng sessions followed here. These included the Housing question; the providing of domestic help in homes where it is needed; immigration policy; always with the principle of equality of opportunity and equal status as between men and women. Earnest appeals were made throughout the address for the BEST of womanly power and intellect a» represented in the l’arliament, to be exercised in the approach to the many problems w hich would be worked upon during the various sessions. Idealism was held to be the dominant note. In conclusion, Mrs. Bromilovv said: "Throughout your deliberations you will maintain a-, a background one awful thought the Atomic Bomb. You will realise that in this, man lias done wb.it has hitherto been deemed t’*e

impossible; lie lias reversed creationyou will realise that, since the dawn of the Cl ristian era. this in the most 1 far-reaching event to happen on ea. tli; you will realise that a stupendous power for good or evil lias been placed within the hand of man; that this power opens vistas of wondrous beauty, vistas of hellish inferno, and—nothingness. Beyond all things, you will bend every energy, every ability to the great purpose of eliminating of war from this planet for ever. Great is the opportunity, heavy is the task, worthy is the reward. Go to

it. then, and may success crown your efforts.”

Apart from the consideration of what the l’arliament may actually achieve, and this promises to he eminently well worth while, the educational value will be immense. The rigid procedure to he followed, in full accord with Parliamentary tradition, should of it«elf he beneficial to women in running the organisations which have elected them as their representatives. And the volume of information to be available on matters of vital interest to everyone, which will he the business of the Ministers to produce, will form a fine equipment tor the members whose aim it will he to influence general public opinion, with the State Parliament as the final goal of effort in the direction of securing those things so urgently felt to he needed.

A souvenir number of “Dawn,” the monthly periodical of the "Women’s Service Guilds" of W.A., gives full reports of the Parliament, and is procurable from:—The Editor, "Dawn,” Ist Floor. Cecil Buildings, Sherwood Court, Perth, W.A. The price is 6d. May the brightest hopes and expectations of the Parliament he realised in the tunc of their first members.