WOMEN AND POLITICS

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 168, 6 October 1927, Page 4

WOMEN AND POLITICS

Tlie 20th century was rightly called the women’s century, as it was the beginning of the citizenship of women, said Miss Ellen Melville during tin address on “What Women are doing to-day” at a meting of the Haeremai Club in St. James’s Hall last evening. It was necessary to look back 60 years to realise the tremendous change Jh women’s outlook and surroundings. They had been able to blame the men for wrong laws and for wars previously, but now that the women had the franchise and took an active part m the politics of their own particular country, they had to shoulder ps.rt of the responsibility themselves. The largest women’s organisation in tne world, the International Council of \\ omen, to which 39 countries belonged, worked for the betterment of the people, socially and industrially. cc ? uld °nly be achieved through political action, and so it behoved every woman to interest herself in the politics of her country. ><ew Zealand women were very apathetic regarding citizenship, which the speaker considered a reproach to the whole community. New Zealand, 34 years ago, was the first country to bestow the franchise on women, but other countries, as regarded women taking part in the government of their country, had left New Zealand far behind. To-dav the whole world was moving in the direction of recognising and using the citizenship of women. New Zealanders should awaken to their duties in this Hirer* tion. curec- . Items were given by Mrs. Field. Mrs Pondrill, Miss O'Connell, Miss Parkes iss JJ l ? s ® er ’ Mr * Hatton, Mr. Wallace Mr. W right and Mr. Connell. j