Edith Cowan University Research Online ECU Publications Pre. 2011 1996 The voice of Edith Cowan: Australia's first woman parliamentarian 1921-1924 Harry C.J. Phillips Follow this and additional works at: https://ro.ecu.edu.au/ecuworks Part of the Legislation Commons, Political Science Commons, and the Women's History Commons Phillips, H.C.J. (1996). The voice of Edith Cowan: Australia's first woman parliamentarian 1921-1924. Churchlands, Australia: Edith Cowan University. This Book is posted at Research Online. https://ro.ecu.edu.au/ecuworks/6821 Edith Cowan University Copyright Warning You may print or download ONE copy of this document for the purpose of your own research or study. The University does not authorize you to copy, communicate or otherwise make available electronically to any other person any copyright material contained on this site. You are reminded of the following: • Copyright owners are entitled to take legal action against persons who infringe their copyright. • A reproduction of material that is protected by copyright may be a copyright infringement. • A court may impose penalties and award damages in relation to offences and infringements relating to copyright material. Higher penalties may apply, and higher damages may be awarded, for offences and infringements involving the conversion of material into digital or electronic form. THE \TOICE OF EDITH COWAN AUSTRALIA'S FIRST WOMAN PARLIAMENTARIAN, 1921-24 HARRY C. J. PHILLIPS EDITH COWAN UNIVERSITY CHURCHLANDS, WESTERN AUSTRALIA Published by Edith Cowan University Pearson Street, Churchlands, Western Australia 6018 First published in 1996 Copyright-Edith Cowan University This book is copyright. Apart from any fair dealing for the purposes of private study, research, criticism or review, as permitted under the Copyright Act, no part may be reproduced by any process without written permission. Enquiries should be made to the publisher. Produced electronically set in the offices of the Legislative Assembly, Parliament House, Perth, Western Australia 6000, and printed in Western Australia by Edith Cowan University. National Library of Australia cataloguing-in-publication data. Cowan, Edith Dircksey, 1861-1932. The voice of Edith Cowan, Australia's first woman parliamentarian 1921-1924. Bibliography. Includes index. ISBN: 0 7298 0288 4 1. Cowan, Edith Dircksey, 1861-1932. 2. Women in politics­ Western Australia-Histrory. 3. Western Australia- Politics and government-1918-1922. Western Australia­ Politics and government-1922-1929. I. Phillips, Harry C. J.(Harry Charles John), 1943-. Edith Cowan University. 111. Title. 994.104 PREFACE On 12 March 1996 the Honourable Justice French, as Chancellor of Edith Cowan University, led a rededication ceremony of the Edith Cowan Clock Tower. This occasion, the seventy-fifth anniversary of Edith Cowan's election to the Legislative Assembly, was immediately followed by a breakfast at the nearby Parliament of Western Australia. During the evening a touring exhibition of Edith Cowan's life was launched titled "A Tough Nut to Crack". Then five days later Professor Geoffrey Bolton spoke at St George's Cathedral to celebrate a "Life of Service" by Edith Cowan. The Voice ofEdith Cowan is another contribution to the anniversary. The publication focuses upon her role as a parliamentarian. What, too, was the content of her speeches? How did she conduct herself as a parliamentarian? What was her legislative contribution? What was her impact as a politician? In an introductory essay tentative answers have been formulated to these questions. Edith Cowan's parliamentary speeches have been organised by firstly recording each of her annual Address-in-Reply Speeches. This has been followed by the two private member's Bills (Administration Act Amendment Bill and Women's Legal Status Bill) she piloted through the Legislative Assembly. Her participation in a range of legislative measures, in subject alphabetical order, then follow. The Parliamentary Questions which Edith Cowan directed to Minister's are then presented before her Notices of Motion and Complimentary Remarks. In conclusion Edith Cowan's observations in the annual budget estimates are recorded. In some instances it has not been feasible to print the complete Hansard record of the debates in which Edith Cowan participated. However, all of the remarks, save some interjections, which have been voiced by Edith Cowan are included in the text. Apart from the organisation of her speeches specified above an index of the subjects has also been included to assist readers to ascertain the views expressed by Edith Cowan in Parliament. A major objective of the publication has been to make Edith Cowan's parliamentary speeches more accessible to the public. Hopefully, too, it will be a useful addition to the collection at Edith Cowan's House, established with the initiative of the Faculty of Arts at the Joondalup Campus. The need for the collation of Edith Cowan's parliamentary debates was first recognised by Professor Roy Laurens, Vice-Chancellor of Edith Cowan University. Hilary Shilkin, from the Community Affairs Department of Edith Cowan University, strongly supported the concept and facilitated arrangements for the publication. Then the opportunity for the task to be undertaken stemmed from the deliberations for a conference held at Edith Cowan University on 26 June 1996 titled "Woman in Public Life: Celebrating Edith Cowan". The conference had arisen from an initiative by Dr Elizabeth Constable, the Member for Floreat in the Legislative Assembly, to acknowledge the seventy-fifth anniversary of the election of Edith Cowan to Parliament. Hilary Shilkin mobilised her office, in co-operation with Dr Constable's staff, to help organise the celebration. A steering committee, chaired by Dr Constable, including MPs Dr Judyth Watson and the Hon. Barbara Scott had previously been formed with participation by Ms Janice Dudley (Murdock University), Professor Patricia Crawford (University of Western Australia), Ms Sasha Messer and Mrs Elizabeth Borrello. Chief Justice David Malcolm, a descendent of Edith Cowan, gave one of the opening addresses titled "Women and the Law:Celebrating Edith Cowan". David Black, a member of the organising committee authored a book titled Women Parliamentarians in Australia: 1921-1996. Several staff at the Parliament of Western Australia generously assisted in the copying and typing of the speeches. Tony Melia, Corrine Briant and Gerda Slany helped in this regard. Some of the initial typing, together with the final formatting, was undertaken by Pat Roach from the Legislative Assembly Annexe. Her special contribution is gratefully acknowledged. Gaye Godfrey artistically prepared the cover design. The editing of my initial draft of the introductory essay was undertaken by Cam Rielly, a valued colleague. Appreciation is expressed for the assistance offered by these people, and others, such as political science colleague Dr Quentin Beresford. My family members Jan, Marina, Michelle and Matthew gave their usual welcome support. However, I assume responsibility for any of the shortcomings of the publication. Harry C. J. Phillips, Edith Cowan University, 4 August 1996. TABLE OF CONTENTS Page No. PREFACE INTRODUCTION 1 Election 1 Debut ('Maiden') Speech 3 Second Address-in-Reply Speech 4 Third Address-in-Reply Speech 7 Administration Act Amendment Bill (1922) 8 Women's Legal Status Bill (1923) 10 Other Legislative Stances 11 Parliamentary Questions and Notices of Motion 14 Budget Estimates-Annual Votes 15 Electoral Defeat 17 Edith Cowan's Contribution 17 APPENDIX 1 21 Edith Cowan's Membership of Voluntary Organisations & Advisory Bodies APPENDIX 2 22 Mrs James Cowan Election Pamphlet-1921 Election APPENDIX 3 23 Mrs James Cowan Election Pamphlet-1924 Election APPENDIX 4 24 Parliamentary Questions and Notices of Motion APPENDIX 5 25 Annual Budget Estimates: Edith Cowan Debate Participation APPENDIX 6 26 Parliamentary Participation (Address-in-Reply and Legislation) APPENDIX 7 27 Edith Cowan's Electoral Record for the Seat of West Perth SELECT BIBLIOGRAPHY 28 EDITH COWAN -PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES Address-in-Reply Speeches 29 Maiden Speech Address-in-Reply 30 Address-in-Reply, 9 August 1922 35 Address-in-Reply, 9 August 1923 42 EDITH COWAN- PRIVATE MEMBERS' BILLS 49 Administration Act Amendment Bill 50 Women's Legal Status Bill 60 OTHER LEGISLATIVE MEASURES DEBATE PARTICIPATION 71 Anzac Day Bill 72 Closer Settlement Bill1921 74 Closer Settlement Bill 1922 76 Courts of Session Bill 78 Table of Contents cont'd Page No. Other Legislative Measures Debate Participation contd. Criminal Code Amendment Bill 80 Electoral Districts Bill 82 Factories and Shops Act Amendment Bill 84 Health Act Amendment Bill 90 Hospitals' Bill 93 Industrial Arbitration Act Amendment Bill 95 Inspection of Machinery Bill 98 Licencing Act Amendment Bill No.1, 1921 100 Licencing Act Amendment Bill, 1922 104 Nurses Registration Bill 111 Pensioner's Rates (Rates Exemption) Bill 125 Perpetual Executors, Trustees and Agency Company - Private Bill 127 Public Works Committee Bill 130 Redistribution of Seats Bill 132 State Children's Act Amendment Bill 134 Western Australian Trustee Executor and Agency Company Ltd Act Amendment 138 Wheat Marketing Bill 140 PARLIAMENTARY QUESTIONS (Chronological) 142 MOTIONS AND REMARKS 155 Railway Construction Costs 156 Speaker's Gallery Privileges to Women 157 Soldier Settlement, Pyrton and Hearne Hill Estates 160 University Fees and Bursaries 161 Retirement of H C Kessell ·163 Pension