WOMEN IN POLITICS

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2686, 4 February 1916, Page 6

WOMEN IN POLITICS

WORK IN AUSTRALIA

NATIONAL LEAGUE'S OPERATIONS

At the "at- home" which was given last evening by the president of the Women's Political lvelorm League (Mrs. C. Earle) for Mrs. 0. E. liolitho, general organising secretary of the Australian Women's National League, Melbourne, an interesting resume of the work aud organisation of her league was given by tlio guest of honour, who was lormaily introduced to those present by her hostess Touching. upon the origin ,of . the League, Mrs. Bolitlio pave a startling instance of the way in which it had developed • when she ' told her hearers that when it was founded eleven years ago it consisted of fivo members, and now it had a membership of 52,000 (purely a Victorian membership), with 540 branches throughout the State of Victoria. In view of the circumstances which wore governing tho world to-day the founders were very far-seeing when they took as their motto "For God and Country," for it was indeed for both that they as a league were working today. Its objectives have already been given, and Mrs. Bolitho again emphasised tho fact that tho League, which was in support of the Liberal Party in Australia, was absolutely a women's organisation, governed, organised, and run by them in every respect, with a membership entirely of women. To these facts Mrs. Bolitho attributed the great success tlmt liad attended its existence from the very first. There had been organisations, she told her hearers, that had, been composed of both men' and women—for instance, the Producers and Property Owners' League, and the Farmors' League, but tlioy had died after a brief existence.

One of tho great aims of the League was to educate women in politics, for while men grew unconsciously into such matters women had to be taught. The League had neither class nor creed distinctions, but was For every woman who wished to pay her shilling a weok and help to put tho right man into.Parliament. The combating of Socialism by advocating equal opportunity for all classes and opposing the nationalisation of industries was another of their planks, to which tliey clung almost as firmly as to their first one, "Loyalty to the Throne and Empire." It was bocause of the Liberal League that Victoria had always had a Liberal Government, save for a curious political aberration when Labour reigned for somewhere about twenty-four hours or so some time ago.-

The governing body of the League was situated in Melbourne, where the seat of Government was, tho offices being in .Collins Street, where the League was the tenant of the Bank of Now Zealand, curiously enough. The organisation was such, however, that the city branches and membership did not overrule tho country membership, nor vice versa, and cach branch sent a delegate to the council, so that town and country were equally represented.

The Home-keepers. Mrs. Bolithe stressed the necessity that existed for always keeping the league a living force and always in action, even though it was war time. While tho men were away fighting for their country and Empire, the people at liome had to keep that country a iit placo to live in. Unless the work went on, all the branches being in touch with the council, always being kept a livo force, interest would dwindle, and their organisation bccorno weakened. By-elections were always liable to happen, and they had to bo ready for them, and for other emergencies. . Throughout the State the league had its branches, and in every cleotorato these branches had their electorate committees. When elections were taking place these committees saw to the itineraries of their candidate, secured lialls, travelled the candidate from one place to another, arid in every way sought to reduce the difficulties that inevitably existed in all political campaigning. All tho branches worked' under the Central Committee or executive body, and the president was elected by the branches. At the annual council meeting- the office-bearers were appointed, and the different committees elected for the council by the .council. The league had its speakers (who were voluntary workers), its canvassers, who did only canvassing work, and its organisers, and only if these organisers were speakers as well were they ever called upon to speak. The staff for the national organising secretary consisted of a typist, clerk, bookkeeper, messenger, and tho office hours .were half-past nine to halfpast five every day. Thesp, of course, were paid workers.

The splendid record of patriotic work carried out by the loague was also outlined by the speaker, who finished with a strong appeal to every woman present never to stand in the way of husband, brother, son, or fiance who wished to fight for his country. "The woman who packs her man's knapsack and sends him away with her prayers for his safety was as brave as lie whom she was sending away." The fate of Australia and New Zealand was being decided on tlio other sido of the world, just as surely as though the war were being fought at our own doors, and if the Germans won the fate of Serbia and of Belgium would be just as surely our own fate," concluded Mrs. Bolitho.

Speech by Mr. Herdman. ' At the close of 'the speech, the Hon. A. L. Herdman, Attorney-General, thanked 'Mrs. Bolitho for her most interesting address. He was sorry to hear that the combined organisations of men and women that had been men- j tioned by Mrs. Bolitho had met with so I untoward a fate. He did not think that would betho end of the combined organisations in this country, perhaps because the men were better. He thought that everyone would agree with him that at such times aS these, when tragedy was in the air, political bickering and wrangling should ccase to exist. It was a matter for congratulation that in New Zealand, as in England, politics had been put on one side. What we had to see to was that evory effort should be mads to do our part in this great war, and while wo sent the men away wo had also to seo that they were properly cared for on their return. Ho was suro that evory member of the administration was doing his duty in carrying on the businessof wan War meant confusion, the | reversing ofThe normal state of things, I and while mistakes bad been made, in England and in New Zealand, yet we had to look at the broad result. We coulcl see the wonderful feats of organisation that had been carried out by England, in spito of her mistakes. Mr. 1" milium proceeded to briefly outline, for Mrs. Bolitho's benefit, the various methods of procedure that had been established for the benefit of the returned soldier.

Dr. Newman also thanked Mrs. Bollflio 'for her illuminating address, and emphasised the groat value, so practically illustrated in the methods of the Australian Women's League, of combination. He was sure that the members of tlie Women's Reform League would find much that ' was of groat value in Mrs. Bolitho's address, and to him it had been one of tho most interesting evenings lie ViEid spent for a very long timo.