WOMEN’S POLITICAL ASSOCIATION.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1918, 18 July 1889, Page 2

WOMEN’S POLITICAL ASSOCIATION.

TO THE EDITOR. Sie,-—Political principles that cannot be refuted by argument are generally called fads by their opponents. Being in favor of what you are pleased to call-that fad, I had the honor of being at a ladies’ meeting on evening held to form a WomenVFolitieal Association. There were no rhale animals admitted, but the'keyhole was left open, and I overheard the proceedings. There were some not very complimentary remarks, and a suggestion was made to wait on you for a personal apology for your assertion to the effect that working men’s wives would be worse than their so-called lords in their idiotic disregard of politics; but they ultimately concluded that your occupation would debar you from enjoying as much of woman’s society as enable you to understand what she is, and that you must be united to one of those goodnatured souls who can manage you and flatter your vanity by allowing yoij to tliink that you are the head of house and the good manager that she is. The G-overnment of Sir Harry was compared to the house-keeping of John Grurnly, and it was the unanimous opinion of the meeting that it is a man’s place to earn money

and a woman’s place to spend it; that in private life it is a well-known | fact that she can do more with one pound than he can with two, and that her political conduct would be on the same lines; that a few men have obtained a reputation for financing by using the abilities of their wives in a second-hand sort of way, and palming them off as their own. One lady, with a sweet musical voice and a merry twinkle in her eye, said that man’s greater animal strength and his jealousy of the superior mental powers of woman were retarding the progress of civilisation; that she could select from amongst her own friends a government and legislature of her own sex that would in less than three years put an end to the sweating system and the unemployed difficulty, and abolish Customs duties, without increasing the burdens on property. As the chief end and sole aim of our present Government was protection of property, she saw no reason why property-holders should not pay all the taxes. Indeed, considering how the greater part of what is called property has been acquired, she was inclined to the opinion of the French Socialist who said that property was theft and property-holders thieves. She would class the legal thief along with his lawless brother. It was ignorant selfishness of men and their impolitic and unjust laws that were the cause of all the crimes and errors of society. The rule of justice tempered with love was so much more... humanising than the rod of iron. If it was universally adopted, so that,-411 could enjoy the advantages of political life, police forces and standing armies could be dispensed with, and this large item of government expenditure retrenched ; and those large numbers of able-bodied man would be free to take their share of the productive labor necessary to the existence of governments and people. At present more than nine-tenths of those v who bear the burdens of governments derive no benefits therefrom. They would be better trusting to natural selection and the survival of the fittest. The law, which ought to be beneficial to all mankind, was a lover of oppression to the many for the benefit of the few. The untold human misery that exists was a horrid monument of the incapacity of men. The advent of her sex to the political arena would b® the dawn of a happier era, that would bring sunshine of prosperity to millions of homes that are dens of squalid misery and nurseries of crime under the present regime. Demo.

[We are to be invaded by a Women’s Rights deputation, and made apologise, too! We appeal to the Peacemaker of Rangitata for protection. And fancy the ©pinion these ladies have of the Fourth Estate! It is an occupation which debars one from enjoying the society of women. Oh! What will we do when there is a Parliament of women ? We are doomed! They will doubtless wipe out newspapers altogether. Considering the opinion formed of us is that of women we must not attempt a defence, and, so as to mollify these ladies before they make their descent upon us, we shall admit that if they attempted to exercise the franchise at all we feel certain they would do so more intelligently than many men do. Last election a certain man was asked how he would vote, and he replied, “ Well, I got a pint ©f beer from ■, and that is more than I got from——; I shall vote for .” And so he did, like a brick. Women would not do werse than that. Indeed, we believe, they would do well if they could be got to vote. It is great work often to get their husbands to do so, and we are afraid it would be greater to get women to do so. Demo may rely on it that if Sir John Hall thought his) .caste was to lose by it he would not advocate Women’s Rights. Our only objection to giving women voter is that we believe wealthy women would vote while poor women would not bother with it. The result then would be to give double voting power to the wealthy,— Ed.]

FOOTBALL MATTERS,

TO THE EDITOR. Sie, —"With considerable disappointment 1 read the names of the team selected to represent the South Canterbury Rugby Union in the coming match with the North Canterbury Union. The selection committee may well congratulate themselves upon their choice! The two who picked the team were Messrs Flint and Matheson. The last-mentioned, being one of the players, certainly does not deserve praise for not withdrawing from the committee. He is either dull of comprehension or suffers from a want of modest feeling. As regards our representative, Mr Flint (who seems to have had almost supreme power), the manner in which he behaved is entirely unsatisfactory, and, in order to sustain his reputation of impartiality, he should without delay explain the reason why there are no men from Temuka in the team (two who would not go an exception). If he cannot do so, the best thing he can do is to resign his position as delegate to the Union. The team is not by any means the best that could be sent away. There are nine forwards in the Tomuka Club who could more than hold their ground with those who are to go tft Christ-

church, and G. Velvin unquestionably has no superior in the backs, though he has inferiors. The team will bo beaten, and it will be telegraphed about the colony that the South Canterbury Union was defeated by the North Canterbury, whereas it will mostly be “ birds of a certain feather ” who will be beaten. The full-back, A. vShallard, is a good man, but he is out of his place. Perry and Moore are worthy their position as three-quarter-backs, but Macintosh has no right to be in the team. However, as he is there, half-back should be bis place. Of the half-backs Hart worthp a place in any team, bujs Lawrenson could be replaced by a better man. Furthermore, he has not turned up to trial matches, and. if favoritism has not been shown in this instance why has he been picked? In th® forwards F. Shallard is certainly the best. Matheaon is a fast forward, and good in the open, but very poor in serums, and rather inclined to play a “ waiting game.” Goodall, LeOren, and Stokes are hard workers, and Chisholm is a fair forward, but after Matheson’s style. Pearce is fairly fast, and a good worker. Stndholme is a good all round man, but it would be adyantageous if from the line-out he would pass to his halves. Brinkman in my opinion should not be in .the team. Messrs Flint and Matheson ■may be proud of their selection! I / Athletic. V ___