THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. MONDAY, JULY 3, 1911. WOMEN'S SPHERE.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10277, 3 July 1911, Page 4

THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. MONDAY, JULY 3, 1911. WOMEN'S SPHERE.

Woman is entering so largely into the professional and business life of the community in New Zealand just now, that one is tempted to ask how long it will be before her political disabilities will be removed. When the franchise was bestowed upon her twenty years back, it was boldly assented that she would not avail herself of the privilege she had so unexpectedly acquired. Experience has demonstrated, however, that the womian of this country manifest quite as intelligent an interest in political affairs a® do the sterner sex. Indeed, their enthusiasm at the polling booth has infused new aunimatdon into electoral proceedings. Why, then, should they not possess the full privilege of citizenship, and be given an opportunity of taking a part in the actual fawning of the laws of the country ? It will be as-serted-that women are not physically fit to endure the strenuous work of a Parliamentary session. This is mere assertion, without evidence with which to support it. If wlomen .were sent, to there would be some hope of reform in the methodgi under which our legislative business is conducted. The system. of all-night.. sittings would be abolished, and important measures would not be rushed through in the early hours of the morning, when member's are fagged in brain

Sd worn-«?ut in "body. If women are ] _ ysically capable of pursuing the , strenuous work of school teaching and similar professions, tlhey_ should be equally capable of performing the functions of legislators. There is not a solitary profession in the Dominion, save that of politics, which is not open to women. Why, then, should the legislative disability be permitted to exist? If women have the ability to discriminate between, right and wrong in politics when it is presented to them by the candidate from the hustings, they < surely are possessed of sufficient ability to judge of the merits of legislation which might be introduced in the House of Parliament. It is, of course, unreasonable to suppose that a large number of women would enter politics, even if they had the privilege. The number who have entered the legal and medical profesisionis is not very great. But why | should women be debarred from the privilege of seeking to represent their fellows in Parliament? Is there any logical reason why they should suffer this disability? If there is, then le tsome Parliamentary candidate state it plainly from the platI form. The time is not far distant when women will insist upon a full recognition of their rights.