A QUESTIONNAIRE

Evening Post, Volume CXIV, Issue 89, 12 October 1932, Page 11

A QUESTIONNAIRE

WOMEN IN PARLIAMENT

Some explanation of tho reason why the women of Now Zealand have nover elected one of their own sex to Parliament, in spito of having had the franchise for forty years, may be gained by tho questionnaire which . tho Christchurch Business- and Professional Women's Bound Table Club proposes to circulate among its members, the members of similar organisations in other centres, men and women in public positions, and members of Parliament, states the Christclmrch c<Ti m es." Tho announcement of the proposal was made by the president of the club, Miss B. E. Shackleton, at the luncheon on_ Monday. She said that the: decision had been made mainly as the result of a statement by Sir Thomas Wilford at Geneva, to the effect that ".women had voted for forty years in New Zealand, and none had been elected to Parliament because women would not vote for women.' 3 "Some of the more feminist members of the club consider that this statement is a direct challenge," said Miss Shackleton, "and one which requires some analysis. Among the club's ideals is that of intelligent citizenship, and so we propose to set up a select cominittco to deal with tho question." Miss Shackleton • said that the questionnaire would, it was suggested, deal with the followinng points:— What are the things which influence women's votes, and how far are they swayed by party alliances"? Is the scope of their common interests too narrow? Do women feel that women candidates for Parliament do not know enough about the problems of trado and finance? Are women waiting for a superwoman, and if so, are they justified? If Sir Thomas Wilford is correct, what can be done to TCmedy the matter, and if he is wrong, how can the impression be corrected? The Select Committee will be chosen and the question further considered at a meeting of the club on 2Stli October.