AFTER THE WAR

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 37, 7 November 1918, Page 3

AFTER THE WAR

Professor Meredith Atkinson addressed a large attendance at a meeting in the 1 Melbourne Guildhall last week (says the I Melbourne "Argus"), under the aegis of I the Women's Political Association, on "Women and- Reconstruction." The feminist movement, he said, was content with nothing leas than sex equality with I the right of entry into' certain spheres, ! and repudiation of specious favouritism 'by mun. There were in this many ser- | ions- difficulties and pitialls. The malo wage-earner 'was often driven to resist : 'rumen's labour because it threatened 'hid standard of life or employment. The : whole community must take up the at--1 tittide of the general good. He travers- , od the work of women in England duri !!ig the war. The Women's Freedom League, he said, had demanded guarantee that no trained woman should get , less than similarly trained men, some ; consideration after the war to women . who had helped, and, if training were ; required, proper maintenance during the ' process. It then appealed to women for ' loyalty to one another in demanding those conditions, fhe Government and ' the unions agreed on admission of women to trades hitherto prohibited, and provided for the maintenance of customary rates, but did not clearly ndmit women to equal pay. Many womon in industry would be dismissed after the war, . and it would be difficult for them to j hold the ground won. ' But general me- ! chanicnl training would fit them for other branches. Trades unions among women would be absolutely imperative. It would T>e better to open men's unionsjto women. Separate unions would be a source of weakness.'