WOMEN AND THE WAR

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2805, 24 June 1916, Page 9

WOMEN AND THE WAR

FINDING HER PLACE AND ■ DOING HER PART By TelecraDh-Press Association-Copyright London, June 22. Mr. W. SI. Hughes addressed a meeting at Westminster Palace Hotel under tho auspices of, the.'Women's imperial Council of Defence, -representing"6oores of women's war-work societies, i-ady Burliam, -who liad more deeply stirred'-'the ; sfiul'of the nation than any other statesman. Mr. Hughes, who was loudly cheered' said the war had torn away the screen behind which- women, for centuries haa heen forced by social and economic 'arguments to veil themselves. • Woman was now finding her place and doin» her ;part .'splendidly.. ' 'It' .-.was. improbable that woman, would be'-'content after the war to be relegated to the backwater of life wherein men had placed her for so. long.'- He emphasised that wo-must act as' intelligent humans, and prepare for the inevitable by the .organisation of industry.' • - . ■ . After the war'labour .condiKons wouid be perfectly adjustable. If use was to be made of every means.at our..disposal we -must- realise that'- lieneeforth-Tvomen' will be a permanent factor in the economic problem, and unless we prepare '.there will he-a nationaldisaster. In the- preparation., .to. bring national progress women must not be regarded aa cheap labour. Women' : 'had : increased .the , surplusage, of labour, .remembering that millions before the war were clinging to.-the' edge of an- abyss.' Coupled with women's determination there ; would be no surrender of the economic freedom now obtained. Urgent organisation was the -..only remedy, otherwise -it - would create an enemy in- a man's 'own-houses hold. '

It was impossible, ho said, to" purchase German goods in Australia. The women of England can insist on the same attitude of viewing the pro-German.trader, as their bitterest enemy. They must ensure that the bereaved" dependants of '.war. heroes shall,not receive-a. .dole from the chilling hand "of charity.' They hau earned the country's generous support. - A . resolution was passed . -demanding vigorous economic reorganisation, 'the establishment of a' most rigid blockade, and ..the- amelioration of the • conditions of British prisoners.