ECONOMIC INDEPENDENCE OF MARRIED WOMEN.

White Ribbon, Issue 1, 1 July 1895, Page 6

ECONOMIC INDEPENDENCE OF MARRIED WOMEN.

(By Masey Macleod.)

Tri economic independence of married women is a subject which is occupying the attention of many women in various parts of New Zealand. As one writer put it recently, "a woman in this colony has a voice in the public affairs of her country, but she has not the right to pay her own milliner's bill." In England also the matter is receiving consideration. That justly popular paper, The New Age, discussed the question some months since, pointing out that women of the middle classes arc probably the greatest sufferers in this respect. In the higher circles of society a man dare not keep his wife without money to spend as she may think fit lest he so create a scandal. Among the labouring classes a good husband usually places the whole of his earnings in the wife's hands to lay out for the benent of the entire family. The wife in the middle r.ink has frequently to ask for every sixpence she may wish to spend. Her husband pays for her boots and bonnets, but not a shilling can she claim as her right. Was it ever thus ? Surely, then, some fanatic—some visionary creature—framed the marriage service, wherein the man says, " With all my worldly goods I thee endow ! A nineteenth century form would run M I engage to provide thee with such food and clothing as I think fit ; to allow thee money for charity, post and tram-fare.-, when I feel in the mode so t<

Of course, it is D to Si ttlf what proportion of the income a wife should be able to claim as her own. The writer in tht Jfsm Age suggests that where the income is considerable a wife should be able to consider as her private share an amount at least equal to that of the most highly paid domestic in the establishment. With lower incomes a woman would probably be content with

that paid to the maid of all work. This is surely no outrageous claim for one who has to bear and rear the coming generation. There are many who lift up their hands in holy horror at such an innovation. Put a wife on a level with a servant ? Yes, rather than have her

treated as a slave. Many slaves were well fed, clothed, and housed, even surrounded with luxury ; yet these creature comforts did not make them independent beings, or do away with the necessity for righteous war in the cause of the oppressed.

Not for one moment would I insinuate that even in the middle classes all wives have such cause for complaint. Many just men and true are there who carry out the marriage vow to the very letter. Think of the friction, the dissension in homes such a law would cause ! To be sure there would be discomfort- in those dwellings where injustice reigns To the truly just man, he who now treats his wife as a partner and an equal, such a regulation would make no difference