WOMEN’S BIG PART IN POLITICS.

Hokitika Guardian, 11 December 1925, Page 1

WOMEN’S BIG PART IN POLITICS.

The presence of so many women delegates at the recent Conservative Conference at Brighton is a sign of the times. At that gathering there were actually more women than men. But this evidence of increasing interest of women in politics is not confined to one party'. There were about 200 women delegates at the recent conference of the Socialist Party. They have even begun to appear at the annual conference of the Independent Labour Paut.v —mostly very young women these. And among the Liberals they now probably form the most nelements, says R. M. Smith in “Tho London “Daily Mail.” Indeed, I have heard the remark frequently lately from many political organisms that while men seem to he losing interest in politics, adopting it “What’s the use?” attitude when asked to take part in local organisations, women tire every day becoming keener. Beyond doubt they are now more act-

ive political workrs in the lonstitiioneies than men. They are drawn front two classes—the women of the aristocracy and working women. The former tire no newcomers to polities. Members generally, of families with political traditions, they have been accustomed for years to political work. But is is from the ranks of workingclass women that the great influx of new enthusiasts has come. Women in the forties, mothers of families, they have discovered that polities affect bread and butter. Economy in administration is their most constant demand, and they show very marked Imperialistic tendencies. Many of tho working women delegates at the Conservative conference had saved for a whole year the expenses of attendance. Mrs Black Coat remains aloof from polities, and how to stimulate interest in the wives of city clerks is a problem that till the political organisers are trying to solve. “Apparently those women,” said the head of one great women's political organisation. “regard it as had form to be mixed up in (olities. One senses behind their apathy the conventions of suburbia. It is in canvassing the electors that women show the most marked superiority to men. They take much trouble lo learn their .subject, are. therefore persuasive, and if a voter is out will call again and again. Men. after olio call, mark the unseen voter “Doubtful” without taking further trouble. Already .street-corner women speakers have been send and heard. So far they are few. blit to judge bv the numbers of women who are asking to attend classes in political speaking they will soon be many. The demand for political pamphlets from women is enormous. In one of the last of mail's strongholds, too, the women politicians are challenging him. All over the country they are forming their own political clubs for study and recreation, and. according again to the organisers, are refuting the man-made tradition that woman is not a clubbable creature.