The Daily News TUESDAY, JANUARY 16. THE STILL SMALL VOICE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 8029, 16 January 1906, Page 2

The Daily News TUESDAY, JANUARY 16. THE STILL SMALL VOICE.

The.insistent voice of the women of any country cannot be ignored either in the home or in the State for any length of time, and as " the hand that racks the cradle rules the world," it seems a poor policy to quarrel with the rulers. The women of New Zealand cannot be said to have openly insisted on getting the franchise, but they quietly insisted that the men, whom, of course, they " rule," should fight out the question of the grant oi the franchise to them. Naturally, the women of other countries havo noted with envy the position the women of Zealand have attained in the government of this colony, nnd have come to the conclusion that what is justice to the women of one country, is also justice to the women of another. It is still an open question whether the majority of women have been long enough emancipated to use their vote in the expression of their political opinion, the political opinion of their men-folk, or their personal feeling towards the candidate as a mere outward man. It is also an open question whether women, even if they li»d not the franchise, could not still influence the legislature either beneficially or otherwise.

* * # 'j Bora the old British Premier and the new British Premier have stated, if the cables are to be believed, that they favour the women s franchise for Britain, but, as a commentary on their sincerity 'in tire matter, we read that both gentlemen were severely " heckled " just, before the elections, and that seven woman suffragists—it doesn't mention whether"''they were men or women —were thrown out of the new Premier's meeting. This seems to point to the fact that the question is a pretty warm one in the Old Country at the present time. Whether

tlie women of Britain will be a dis i criminating voting-power when they get the franchise—as they assuredly will in the future—or whether they will simply say " ditto " to their menfolk, the fact remains that where any country makes laws to govern the conduct of both sexes, it is unfair that one sex alone should elect the representatives who make the law for all; although, as we have said, the influence of women is exerted very frequently, even though they have no place at the ballot. * # * # A coNTEMroiURY in the capital city is pieteuding at the present to be torn with a great verbal conflict, tVA'e women civilised V It is an internal disoivle •, as the merest novice may see, and is an evidence that this is the " silly season." A good many male human-beings, who have been crossed in lovj or forget they ever,; had mothers, or that they wouldn't have been the marvels they believe themselves had it not been for an " uncivilised " female, make a poor attempt at times to belittle women in the bulk. It does not occur to these mon with the mud-rakes that in deprecating females they natural-

ly belaud, by comparison, the, super-

ior article nun, and the man is never so ridiculous in the eyes of other mon and women as when he spreads

his feathers and asks the world to watch him shine. A small coterie of men on the paper referre! to are at this moment shining with all their might, and "the hand that rocks," etc., is still ruling, despite the male assertion that their owners are " uncivilised," Mostly the man who either verbally or otherwise abuses woman is either making capital out of the abuse, or he has a very excel - lent reason to fear " the hand that rocks." # # # *

Csossland, the unspeakable perpetrator of th.it literal')' atrocity, " Love ly Woman," made capital and a good many libel actions out of his

written villainies. Crossland seems to have a few followers in New Zealand, who, if personally accused of the social ciime of being mtgallant to the fair sex, would, of course, repudi-

ate it. Although a very large number of women take advantage of their voting piivilegos in this colony, there are few of them who participate publicly in political doings. Always the majority of women have exercised their great influence in the quietest manner, and have been able to achieve greater results than if they had shouted their mission from the housetops. We shall not have a written wordy war from the women on the great question, " Are women civilised ?" but there are a large number of male wordy warriors who will put up the white flag when the insistent female gets them under the " hand that rocks." * * * * A hood many men profess to think that the alleged catastrophe of a mixed parliament of men and women ■will be an accomplished fact some day. We confess we don't think so. Women have less faith in women than thoy have in man. Nature saw to this. It is safe to say that should there ever be a lady member in Parliament, the men will put her in. There is no room in New Zealand for the woman-hater, and there is no room for the man-hater. Both are subjects for hospital. Both are maniacs of a dangerous type. The al leged women-haters—who are not drapers—lampoon woman's iove for finery. Women have no particular love for finery, but women have a love for what men may regard as enhancing the physical attraction of women. Men are not vain. No? The man out back —dees he array himself in creased trousers, a red tie, a four-inch collar, and a large watchchain ? Certainly not. Why ? Because there are no women to see him, and, incidentally, no shop windows where he can see his glorious reflection. The peacock never spreads his tail when the hens are absent. # * # # As women are weak in reply on paper, so they are strong in reply viva voce and in private. The sensible man does not dare to.suggest that women should not have a vote Both C'ampbell-Bannormaii and Bal four are sensible men. We are persuaded, howl the critics never so loudly, that the women will go on pleasing themselves, and that if the men don't permit them to please themselves, so much the more uti comfortable for the men. Women's inside influence, from the davs of Nell Gwynne and Lad) Hamilton down to the days of the Dowager Empress of China and Lady Roberts, has been exerted in ruling the rulers, and as far as one is able to see, the ruled are going on ruling the rulers right down the ages,