INFLUENCE OF POLITICS.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIV, Issue 4512, 8 January 1923, Page 2

INFLUENCE OF POLITICS.

——a—g INVADING THE HOME. j Jt might seem that there is not much connection between marriage and politics. Yet, already, women; electors in Britain have made it plain to some of the candidates that such, a relationship certainly does exist (writes a “Parliamentary Candidate” in th.c “Daily Mail”). It lias beer, pointed out that since the war the age of marriage in the case of men lias advanced at least five, and oftem ten, years. In other words, the man. who in .1914 would have married at--25 now has to’wait till he is 30>, or even 33 or 34. The cost of living and taxation have struck a heavy blow st the home, eveii during the period of i.ts foundation. Nor is the change merely one of age. As an elector, put it: “Men who do not marry before-30 become less inclined for marriage/ They grow into bachelors.” This U true in many cases. The recklessness and extravagance of the late Govern-', ment have resulted in the loss to many,, girls o.f their life’s, happiness. Nov only so, but engagements have become longer. Many a woman now, inurt be content to wait years for the-, man of her choice. Candidates wadi are not prepared to pledge themselves! to immediate and drastic economy finl' this new argument of the women electors a continual thorn in their' flesh. For it can be expressed shortly and bitterly: “British homes or' foreign ventures ?” Women, it i-s be-! coming clear, are no fools, where ques-'-tions of economy are concerned. Indeed, there is a peculiar quality of irony, new to our public platforms,’ in the question asked by a woman, whether it was proposed to concent trate on the national home for the Jews in Palestine or to spend the money instead on a Rational home for. the English in England. Politics, in short, have reached the home. Candidates are being subjected to a new classification. Either they are homemakers or home-breakers.