Plea For More Tolerance

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30469, 17 June 1964, Page 3

Plea For More Tolerance

New Zealanders must strive for greater unity and work for better relations between town and country', Maori and European, North Island and South Island and primary and secondary industries, said Mrs Stevenson.

Mrs Stevenson said she was most concerned at the rift developing between the islands and deplored a suggestion that imports should be related to overseas exchange earnings by each island separately. “Watch a committee being set up by some nationalorganisation,” she said. “Someone will say ‘There is no-one from the South Island.' What does it matter where they live? Is it not more important that they be suitable persons?” Climate had a great deal to do with the movement of people from south to north.

and industry would settle where the people were, she said. “Let us face up to this thing and become more united with one country, not two.” Advocating the greater participation of women in national affairs, Mrs Stevenson said. “I would like to see more women invited to--sit on committees, particularly any to do with education, health and justice. We have the women who are capable: let us use them.”

Mrs Stevenson said she agreed with Miss M. B. Howard (Opp., Sydenham) in her opposition to school certificate qualification for nurses.

“I feel we must not allow academic qualifications override intelligence,” she said, “If you want a toaster repaired you don’t ask the electrician if he has . an A.M.LE.E. You ask if he can repair the toaster. “I think the qualification for nursing should be a desire to nurse.”

“I hope there may be times when the five of us here now may stand together as women to -support what we feel is right for women and Children with complete disregard for party politics. “Women are fairly patient and long-suffering, but, as Shakespeare has it: ‘A woman moved is like a fountain troubled’ —and someone gets wet.”

On co-operation in industry, Mrs Stevenson said a private airline flew to. Welling-

ton on alternate days and. N.A.C. corporation flew on the same days. “It would be more sense and more convenient to the public if N.A.C. operated on the days not covered by the private airline.” There was the same duplication jn bus time-tables between Auckland and Wellington, she said. Mrs Stevenson said she approved the better relations with the public on the part of the railways, but suggested she was having trouble with -sleeping berths. “I have travelled on the Limited several times lately and I defy any two people to undress and get into their bunks without bumping into each other. It is also quite impossible to accomplish the acrobatic feat of getting into the top bunk with any sort of dignity.”