CONFERENCE.

Hokitika Guardian, 16 May 1923, Page 2

CONFERENCE.

MUSSOLINI WAXES ELOQUENT. AUSTRALIAN AND N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION. LONDON, May 15. The Australian Press Association’s special correspondent at Rome lepoits that Mussolini, accompanied by a Fascisti guard, with the Lord Mayor and Councillors of Rome, opened the Congress on International Women’s Suffrage in the Piazza del Espozione, in the presence of a vast concourse representing forty-three nations. Flag.* of all nations were displayed, and cinema operators were busy. Mussolini extended a most cordial welcome on behalf of himself and the Fascist! movement. “So far as I am concerned,” he said, “I feel authorised to declare that the Fascisti Government, if nothing unforseen happens, can vouch to gram several classes of women the right to vote, starting from the municipal and following with the political elections. By proceeding by stages, no. disastrous effects will ensue, as predicted by some pessimists. On the contrary, very probably it will bave beneficial consequences, because women will bring into the exercise of this new right their fundamental qualities of foresight, balance and wisdom. There arc many problems outside of politics whose solution affects women and their domestic and social position. I wish to state that all that may be attempted to raise the moral position of women will have tho cordial support of the Fascisti Government, whica recently approved of the W nshingtoii Convention concerning the night work of women, and by this net placed itself in the first rank of civilised nations. We have also adopted a law against traffic in women and children, thus giving legal protection to women. I hope this Congress will make an essential advancement in tho status oi women and take a new step forward in the history of civilised nations.” The President, Mrs Carrie Chapman Catt, thanked the Government and people of Italy for the welcome extended to tin* Congress, which represented a step in the world movement among women, and which demands the repeal of antiquated so-tsilled women s laws and customs, and the substitution of the fact that woman is a human being. Mrs Catt continued: "Our Congress represents the women of 43 out of GO nations in the world. Mo have delegates from twenty-eight nations, who are voters on equal terms with men. Among them are members of Parliament and Councillors of great cities. The delegates who are still pleading for the vote represent only 15 nations. The majority of us are enfranchised, and take part in tho collective rule of the nations of the West. We stand for educated men and women, for schools for every child, for work, good wages and better homes, for tenderer and more scientific care of the children. Tho greatest thing that came out of tho war was the emancipation of the women, hut the vote has been the climax of the struggle, and was most grudgingly given, fn Australia all the women vote. Of all tho continents, South Aiperica is the only one where no woman votes yet. It is the continent of Republics. Our sulfrago movement has girdled the earth'. We are an army, but our only weapon is an appeal for justice.”

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