WOMEN'S POSITION.

Press, Volume LV, Issue 16418, 11 January 1919, Page 11

WOMEN'S POSITION.

.. 1 BACKWARD NEW ZEALAND. Referring, in her address to the Women Teachers*.. Association at Wellington on Wednesday, to the position, 'ot women, Miss • Chaplin, . 8.A., of Christchurch, mentioned the advance made as the result of the war, the enfranchisement of women in England, and their admission to the Legislature. "For 25 years the women of New Zealand have had tho vote, and yet to-day an. un\yi)iingness to trust women in lesponsible public positions is everywhere displayed. Our own Legislature behaved in a singularly undignified manner the other day, when a proposal.to make women eligible to sit in Parliament was first accepted and then rojected. This distrustful attitude is taken in 'other spheres of action, and a little reflection will show that tlvd women of New Zealand are not taking advantage of some of the rights and privileges.-they already possess. . This-- tjmidity on their part' is largely responsible for their being thmst " into . the hackground, and prevented from taking their rightful share in pniftier and social- questions. ' Very tew women are members of Education Boards, where they might render vajuablo.... service. The . lady member who 'did attain a seat on one Board in this country has ehown how helpful women may,be, ror she has been a conspicuous success. 1 ' On the first/' London School Board 50 years ago there were two lady members. ''The apathy that is shown in these matters is. 1 fear, typical of what is found in our profession. Tho ability of women to hold responsible positions as the heads of large schools, and as inspectors and organisers has long been accepted in England and America. Are we so irtferior that we must be content to fiil only subordinate positions:-' We are * convinced, that it is right that men and women should co-operate as inspectors. Tlie opponents of tho principle cannot put forward any valid reason why inspectorships should bo restricted to tne members of one sexj and the powers that be. even when the principle iins been endorsed by representative bodies oi- teachers, simply ignore women's ri'jht to recognition. Is it not time that we took active steps' to assort our claim 3 to fairer treatment!" There is no doubt that the share we take in the work of education is Kecognised by the uublic, and that in r.ny appeal for justice we.should have their svmpathy, hut we mnsfc first ; strengthen our hands by a- closing up of our own rnnks. A firm belie)' in the nobility ol our calling is the first essential to progressive work, and if we are loyally united wo can do mivh to raiso * the statu:- of our. profession."