The Washington times., 1938-12-29
Urges They Take
More Interest in
National Affairs
BY MARY PADGETT

universal WomannoOo races
the loss Of all the rights 1t has
achieved through years Of strug-
gle and toll" said Mrs. Linda
Littlejohn, of Sydney, Australia,
yesterday afternoon in an inter-
view at the headquarters Of the
National Woman's Party.
The solution Of the problem,
Mrs. Littlejohn believes, is for
women to take as active an in
terest in national affairs as they
have taken in international
problems.
"I should like to see the
women lead a movement to de-
mand q well-drawn-up plan on
the aims and purposes Of democ-
racy," she said, with a program
to carry out the plan. One Of
the fundamentals must certainly
be economic security Of every
individual in the community"
EQUAL RIGHTS GROUP
Mrs. Littlejohn is president Of
the Equal Rights International,
an organization Of women's
groups who are working for
equal rights In 18 countries. She
Is also president Of the United
Associations of Women of Aus
tralia and is in the United States
on q lecture tour.
WORK WOMEN LAUDED
Mrs. Littlejohn voiced her
admiration for American women
who are holding down impor.
tant jobs in efficient and tactful
manner. She does feel, how.
ever, that American women
seem to be undergoing a greater
struggle for existence than the
women Of Australia
Very few Australian women,
according to Mrs. Littlejohn, are
working unless they are in pro
feSSional work. She believes this
is because Of the high standard,
Of living in her country.
She said Australian women
have achieved a very large meas
ure Of civil equality, although
they still have to fight to get
appointments on the same basis
as men. In Australia q woman
has complete control Of all Of
her money, earnings and prop
erty and she can enter into any
contract without her husband.
Also she has equal guardianship
Of her children.
s.s HEALTH INSURANCE
In Australia there is a basic
minimum wage for men over
81 that represents the least
amount they believe will take
care Of a man. his wife and
one child. Australia has Just
brought in a federal national
health insurance scheme which
will relate to every worker earn
ing up to about $50 a week, and
1t covers sickness, widows pen
sionS, orphans pensions and old
age pensions,
New Zealand has gone even
further, brought in a national
security scheme to which every
person over the age of Il who
receives any salary, wages or
income must subscribe. It covers
unemployment, health, wi ows'
and orphans security an old
age assistance, and the govern
ment subsidies it.
Mrs. Littlejohn declared that
In her country even the employ
erS and, the well.to-do are very
favorably disposed toward So
cial legislation. Unionism and
compulsory arbitra t ion are
strong and neither employer nor
employe would see either can
celed. She considers her coun.
try far ahead Of England con.
corning hours and wages, fac
tory legislation and regulations.
MOTHER OF FOUR
Mrs. Littlejohn is also a JUS
tice of the peace-an important
position in her nation-and has
brought up a family Of four chill
dren. Her husband is a business
man. In addition to her wide
feminist work. she is a journal.
ist and for three years was a
radio news broadcaSter.
This afternoon she will at.
tend a meeting Of American
board members of the Council
Of Equal Rights International.
At this meeting there will also
be Miss Alice Paul, founder Of
the National Woman's Party;
Miss Laura Berrien, president of
the National Association Of
Women Lawyers; Mrs. Abby
Scott, former political chairman
Of the National Woman'S Party;
Mrs. Nina e. Allender, Of the
National Woman'S. Party; Miss
Dorothy Moncure, national leg.
islation chairman Of the Ma
tional Association Of Women
Lawyers, and Mrs. Randolph
Keith Forrest, chairman of the
D. C. branch of the party.
Local members of the National
Woman's Party will give a din
ner in honor of Mrs. Lttlejohn,
Sunday night, January 8, at the
headquarters.