WOMAN'S PLACE.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 732, 3 February 1910, Page 5

WOMAN'S PLACE.

IN PARLIAMENT OR IN THE HOME? - LIVELY LABOUR DEBATE. By.Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright,' . . Sydney, lebruary 2. , The Political Labour Conference agreed to: a motion in favour of raising tha . school age from .fourteen to sixteen. Tha ' idea was that tlio last two years should be devoted to technical education..-'■} ■; ■■ A motion was also carried .in favour of a reduction, of tho State Assembly,- to • ■ fifty-four members. ■ . Female Judges, Etc. .. The Women's Organising Committee ot • the local branch rccommendeu an amendment of the State Constitution to enable women to; sit in Parliament and to be eligible. •as jurors, magistrates,: and judges. ..The Platform Committee rccommendcd rejection, of tho motion, as it was undo-' sirable to.cast any further burdens on , women, -V. \'i-- ■ One lady delegate characterised th» male members as narrow-minded, and ' deserving of a good "slating." Women were only ■■ asking. for what, men had pro- j mised them—equality of opportunity. Thp speaker urged the conference to praotise what it preached. : ■ f The Franchise and Divorces, : i- . A male member stated that: there had -' .■; been 25 per.. cent. ,more ' divorces':sincß-''. women got the-franchise. It was woman's \ place, to look .after .-the , comfort -of hor'' husband arid ■ her. homcv instead' of wastmg time .over parliaments and municipal. councils. ~ A number of ladies excitedly denounced '> this .speech as- an. insult, ■ whilo another lady thought ■ there were: too - many, -old'". - women in Parliament, already, without 1 ■' their seeking to get. more there. • The debate was adjourned. < ,-•••< '