WOMEN IN PUBLIC LIFE.

Hokitika Guardian, 22 November 1923, Page 4

WOMEN IN PUBLIC LIFE.

Til Mil! SMCCMSS'MS IN CZMCiiDslovakia. PI? AG CM, Sept. 19. It. is little more than three years since the Constitution of Czoelio-S!o----vakia was frtimed—a Constitution which placed women on terms of perfect equality villi men. |i is worth while to consider wluit the women ol the country have done with the opportunity thus offered them. The Parliament of Czeeho-Slovakia i- 11 un posed oi two chambers, the Chamber ol Deputies, Hie members of which are elected for a perk'd of (i vears. and the Senate, elected for a period of 8 years. On attaining her liiajnrity a woman ha- the right to vote for the House of Deputies, and on reaching the age ol 28 lor the Senate. eligibility for membership ol the House of Deputies begins for both sexes at the age of 39. and lor the Senate at the age oi l->.

(tut of 3119 members of t lie I louse of Deputies. 15 are women, while among flu; 150 members of the Senate there are three women.

Already the women members have very definitely influenced the making of new laws, and ailh trcqueiit surer- have presented Bill- dealing with the improvement oi social and domestic condition-. more part ietilaiTy as ihe\ ali": I women anil children. Tor instance, tliev have successfully proposed measures for the complete reorganisation and th" conversion into State insiiliiles ol 111" women’s technical and industrial schools, ami the schools of doiitesiic economy.

They have insisted upon the establishment in all the more important towns of children's welfare centres, and they are now engaged upon the task of regulating the legal position, and the "ctieral advancement of tli" women teachers in the national school.-. They have also introduced Bills for the , oiiijuii.-uiy reporting and I reatitienf oi tciiere.il disease-, anil lor the systematic disinl'eeUtm ol public buildings, school.-., and pmal" house.-. Many of their suggested reforms have, met with complete success, oth"i'- with partial sticees.. and all with -vmpa tlietii eoit-idei'alioii. Nor are the aefivTlie- ol I'zeelio-Slo-\ak women confuted to a parliamentat--, , areor Tin: Economic Council, tn'.ti'ttred aßer th- arini:.ic to cope "tk eouueil- exi-l all our fu-mi-oilieial bodies rout rolling l'«'d supplies and general domestic conditions. So valuable wits the co-opera-women in these councils, t.hal it lm- now been laid down that nutPi ft D ci the total iin ’in hi qc must he v ,oi;i,"i while the present chairman ol the eeiiiral organi-niton i- :: "' ,: ‘i:t!i.