SHE'S NOT NERVOUS— Except In An Aeroplane

New Zealand Listener, Volume 8, Issue 194, 12 March 1943, Page 8

SHE'S NOT NERVOUS— Except In An Aeroplane

that the change isn’t so great as it might seem," Miss Mabel Howard, M.P., in an interview with The Listener recently. "So far, it has not seemed more than my ordinary work. For years now I have been secretary of a large industrial union, one of the largest in New Zealand, so I have had plenty of experience of working with men. This experience should be valuable for handling the problems of my electorate. Also, I worked for 20 years in close co-opera-tion with’ my father in Christchurch South, helping to organise his elections and attend to the duties of the electorate. So the work of a Member of Parliament will not seem altogether novel." aa HAVE been so long in public life A Woman's Viewpoint? ‘Do you think that there is such a thing as a woman’s point of view which should be specially represented in Parliament?" we asked. "I think that women should stand shoulder to shoulder with men, and be prepared to take responsibilities as well as share privileges with men. This war has shown that women can do this, and the fact should be generally recognised. The Labour Government stands for the equality of the sexes. My selection as Labour candidate from nine nominees, of whom I was the only woman, shows that. But I do think there is such a thing as the woman’s point of view, It is impossible for a man to have quite the same outlook as a woman. Although I have worked far more with men than with women, I know my point of view is different. I can’t eliminate the feminine part of me whatever my surroundingings. I have not yet got down to thinking about special women’s problems in Parliament, but I hope that women’s organisations will keep in touch with me with things that they think need doing. If they do, they will have my co-operation." Quite at Home Miss Howard made her maiden speech in the House when Parliament reassembled a fortnight ago. She seconded the Address-in-Reply motion and spoke for 40 minutes with the ease and fluency that long practice has given her. In her room in Parliament Buildings, she certainly gave the impression of being quite at home. When we remarked on this, her eyes twinkled. "Yes," she said, "I came into the House in an atmosphere of great friendliness. I think I have been especially welcomed for my father’s sake. I felt at once that I was among friends. The messengers especially, can’t do enough for me. They have, in fact, made me feel that I have been here forever. My women colleagues have been very helpful, too, and have made me wise about things which I would never otherwise have known."

"In such ~ circumstances, one could hardly expect even a new woman MP. to be nervous," we remarked, "Nervous? I have never been _ nervous at the thought of addressing. any meeting in my life, I don’t know what it Aad "No, I’m wrong," she added. "I do know what it is, I nearly gave up my seat in Parliament last Tuesday; for a moment I felt that I would gladly have done so. I got a ring to say that I must. be ready to leave by ’plane for Wellington at 3 p.m.

Well, I can tell you I was terrified. My heart was pounding, and my knees were shaking with fright, but I have never run away from trouble yet, so I obeyed. The others must have laughed to see my terror, and the very least I expected was that I should be sick. Fortunately, I have only one meal a day, and I hadn’t had it." She glanced Qreseneeei " ,

down. "Yes, you can see that my shadow is by no means small. But thank goodness that one meal a day saved what was left-and it was not much-of my dignity." Miss Howard is one of the people who find a 24-hour day rather too short for all there is to be done. s