Women in Public Affairs.

Gisborne Times, Volume VI, Issue 210, 11 September 1901, Page 3

Women in Public Affairs.

(To the Editor of the Times.) Sir,— ln regard to tho letter by Mr G. 11. Wilson, dealing with tho position of women, the subjoined extract from the journal “ Democracy ” may be read with special interest. —I am, etc., Header.

[Extract.]

In discussing such a question as women in public affairs I find holp by going back to fundamental moral principles. Only so, indeed, do I seem to touch any firm ground, or get any assurance of conviction. What are we here for on earth? What is the supremo aim of human life '? Theso may seem vague and unpractical questions but it is only on the basis of an answer to them that 1 get anything like a clear cluo to what is right and wrong as to this and to many other subjects of present dispute. Suppose, for example, that people look on life with no deeper thoughts than the ordiuary conventional man or woman of the world has; why should they strivo for the enlargement of woman’s sphere'? What motive have they ? What ideals arc unsatisfied'? They take life very much as they find it; and why shouldn’t they? They find enough to do and amuse themselves with iu their families, or in the ordinary round of buying, selling, shopping, colling, dressing, entertaining, and being entertained —why should they break up this snug little routine for themselves, or seek to for others ? They have no pull, no hang in any other direction ; and it is hard to see how they can have it till, in some way or other, they are led to take an altered, a deeper view of life. Now, what is the great aim of life '? I should say the aim was (to use quite simple language) to make the most of ourselves, to become all that we can become, to attain a certain perfection of being. This is the aim for all, for men and women —for all who are human beings. Each should cherish it individually (for himself or herself), and should do all he can to encourage it in others. To bring out all that is latent in us, and to help bring out all the potentialities in others, to add thoreby to what is good and beautiful under the sun, to enrich the sum of creation —this, I take it, is our human task. And to me it is a divine task, since, in complying with it, I believe we are heeding and co-operating with the inmost tendency of things—doing, to use the old time-honored language, what God moans we should do. But, if this is true, is there not, on the face of a proposal to limit anybody’s sphere, something against it ? Bather than seek to confine people and to hedge them about, should we not open to them all possible opportunities by which they may grow ?

When we want a Department of Wit and Humor established in the t( largest wooden building in the world ” no doubt we can get a Bill passed for the purpose. Christchurch Press.

And, by tho way, why should tho Union bo confined to men ? Why not include the farmers' wives and daughters, who milk the cows, and make the butter, and feed the pigs and calves, and look after the poultry ?—Hastings Bulletin. “My Lady Nicotine’s ” income also went up to the extent of £24,900 during last year; from this last item it would seem that a good deal of our alleged prosperity only ends in smoke. —Taurauga Times.

The directors of the companies that have not ordered dredges are congratulating themselves on their foresight. They see now that it will be possible, owing to the number of liquidations, to get them cheap.

Wheat is cheaper in New Zealand than in any of the States of the Commonvvealth, but flour is dearer by ten shillings. This is said to be the direct result ot the combination of the millers, who are using their power to the detriment of everyone but themselves. The Government is against every kind of trust, but the Treasury is hardly in so buoyant a condition to at once take the duty off imported flour to make the operations of the trust abortive. The increase in the price of flour means an injustice to the bakers. The bakers must safeguard themselves by increasing the price of the loaf, and the whole country is to dance to the tune the millers choose to pipe.—Free Lance.