WOMAN AND HER FREEDOM

White Ribbon, Volume 22, Issue 8, 1 September 1950, Page 1

WOMAN AND HER FREEDOM

FRANCHISE DAY—SEPTEMBER 19th

Fifty-seven years ago, on September 19th, 1893, ended the long struggle for Women’s Suffrage in New Zealand. Few of us, still in active service, can remember that campaign, but many could recount stories of the foil and hardships by our mothers and other workers for the Franchise. The long tramps on foot to gain signatures to petitions, the rudeness encountered — not always from men—the weariness and disappointments—the prayers and faith of those noble-h parted and courageous workers must all be remembered. Then the great feat was accomplished, by the united efforts of men and women and sympathetic legislators.

Following 1893, w’hen women could record their votes, as local option polls were held and the great wave of enthusiasm and determination resulted in areas here and there "going dry,” it almost seemed as if a dry New Zealand were in sight. Then, in 1919, at the end of the First World War, we canvassed the country with a special petition for a Dominion vote on the liquor question, and this was granted, and almost carried in our favour.

Parliament. How far have we gone? How many women have been elected to Parliament ? We have a few women on Hospital Boards, where they prove themselves of great service; a greater number on School Committees, where their influence could be used to some extent to restrain the raffling evil; a large number of women are justices of the Peace, but very seldom have the opportunity of sitting on the Bench. The matter of women on Juries was nullified by the fact that women must volunteer for that service, and every time that one has been called, she has been challenged. There is still a job to be done in this connection.

It can he seen then, that women are dong something with their freedom, but it is not enough. If we compare the womanhood of our country today, with that of even 40 or 50 years ago, we find that, then, few' women were drinkers and still fewer were smokers, while today, the majority indulge in both practices. Big wages, short hours of work, easier conditions, all seem to make for increased selfishness and indifference to the needs of others. Women of Other Lands For many years after we gained the suffrage, we in New Zealand, were the envy of women all over the w’orld. We prided ourselves that we w'ere the first. In nearly every country of the world, women have been freeing themselves from the age-old traditions and customs that have bound them. Tliev have surmounted incredible difficulties, have mastered languages, pursued studies in scientific and international fields and, by their courageous tenacity of purpose are putting us to shame. In Belgium, although the women have not yet attained the Suffrage, five women have been elected to the

But, in exchange for the privilege of that vote, we were deprived permanently of the right of Local Option Vote. Since that time, there has been no opportunity for increasing the number of dry areas; on the contrary, some have become wet again, and, until the Local Option is restored, we see little hope of further improvement. What then of our Freedom, so dearly bought? Women’s Suffrage means more than the triennial vote for members of Parliament and Dominion NoLicense. We are free to vote for members of local bodies. We are also free to sc»*k election on such, as well as to

Senate, and three to the Upper Chamber. Belgium also has Women Police. In Egypt today, the veil and the harem are almost completely things of the past. Women there do not enjoy the privilege of voting, hut the professions are open to them, especially legal and journalistic. They take an active part, too, in philanthropic work and social reform. A great honour has been conferred, and deservedly, on Scnorita Minerva Bernardino of the Dominican Republic in South America. The Department of Foreign Affairs appointed her to be Minister IMenipotentiar" to the United Nations, where she lia> served as delegate at several UN. Conferences. If you listen on your radio to U.N. Album, you may hear a Jewess, an African Negress, a Hindu, or a woman of some other country make an excellent speech in excellent English. How many of us have had the patience to master even one other language besides our own?

This is written with the hope of impressing on our minds how we fall short, as the women of New Zealand, of the achievements of women in other and less favoured lands than ours. The problem of how to regain and increase our former zeal is a very serious one. It must he solved by the younger generation of women, so many of whom are privileged to he receiving secondary educations. But secular education will not be sufficient unless it has a Christian foundation. A character built on love of pleasure, selfishness and indifference to the needs of others, is not more likelv to stand against problems and difficult times than a house built on the sard will withstand the storm Mav God give us grace to stand firm for all that the pioneers visualised in the early years of our emancipation. (Contributed by request )