HER HUSBAND THINKS DIFFERENTLY

New Zealand Listener, Volume 11, Issue 281, 10 November 1944, Page 22

HER HUSBAND THINKS DIFFERENTLY

But Mrs. Street Fights For "Women’s Rights" LIKE meeting political women whether I agree with them or do not. So I was glad of the ‘opportunity last week to meet Mrs. Jessie Street, an Australian feminist who recently stood as a Labour candidate in the Australian Federal elections, who edits a journal for women, and who disagrees with her husband pdlitically. It was interesting, too, to know that she is the wife of a judge and the mother of four children. She recently visited New Zealand to attend the Conference of the National Council of Women. "Most of what we are aiming to do for women in Australia is in the Australian Women’s Charter,’ said Mrs. Street. "We want to get you in New Zealand to support it too. The Australian Women’s Charter grew out of a Common-wealth-wide conference of women which was held in 1943. We got representatives from every woman’s organisation in Australia. Our first idea was to get women from all the United Nations, but this was not possible with the many wartime restrictions on travel. However, we went ahead with those we had and embodied our resolutions in a Women’s Charter which tries to cover every aspect of women’s interests. The Charter, of course, is flexible. Provision is made for amendments as need arises. We hope also that it will be extended to become a charter for women the world over. But in the meantime it has been adopted. Perhaps if you New Zealand women adopt it, it will become the Anzac Women’s Charter." Equal Rights With Men I asked what sort of provisions were made in it. "We want women to have equal rights with men in every field," said Mrs, Street. "Equal status and opportunity, responsibility, and reward. We want women to be represented at the Peace Conference. We want to be sure that women will have the opportunity to go on working at their jobs if they want to after the war, and that service women get a square deal. And, of course, we want to guard the rights of the mother and home-maker by recommending that adequate housekeeping and child endowment allowances are paid. But our charter covers a lot more than that. We want better housing, better health services, better remuneration and conditions for nurses, better education services. This is only a part of the programme. The whole is complete equality and better living conditions." Just as I was wondering whether the Australian Women’s Charter might not after all end as an expression of these pious but forlorn hopes, Mrs. Street pointed out that these. admirable recommendations were not going to be allowed (continued on next page)

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to lie cushioned between the two covers of a pamphlet. "No, it is no use unless you can keep people alive and interested. That is why we started the Australian Women’s Digest. We try in this to keep all women interested and informed on what is being done here, there, and everywhere. We try to get articles and cuttings of interest to women. It means a lot of work, but it keeps interest alive. We have now 15,000 subscribers." . Mrs. Street is alert short, and very energetic. I asked how she combined her activities with her duties as a wife and a mother, "I’m afraid both my husband and children have to get used to the fact that I have my. own interests, and my own life to lead. The children especially recognise it. The youngest is grown up, ~so there is hardly.a problem any more with her; but they have grown up independent, and they now like me to have my work and do all they can to prevent home affairs from impeding it. Even my political views differ from my husband’s, but why shouldn’t they? I was the only woman to stand as a party candidate at the last elections. Actually on the first count I led by 7600 votes, but we have preferential voting for the Federal election and I was beaten finally by 2000 votes." With that time was up and Mrs. Street was off, but it may not be long before she comes back. The active co-operation of New Zealand women is clearly’one of

her desires.

S.

S.