Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-08-20
WOMAN SUFFRAGE IN AUSTRALIA.
"A Correspondent Thinks that the Out
look is Fairly Bright.

From the woman's Journal
The position Of the woman's suffrage ques.
ton in Australia IL about as follows: There
exist In Melbourne, the capital of the state OF
Victoria. two woman's suffrage societies, which
labor to leaven public opinion. A large portion
OF the influential press favors woman's vote,
and the present premier favors the vote for
woman, but declines to bring forward bill
because the women as q mass have shown no
desire for the suffrage. In Sydney, the capital
OF New South Wales, there does not exist any
society in favor of woman's suffrage, but the
premier, Sir II. Parks, K. GONG, Is a pro-
nounced believer in woman's vote, and pub
icly declares he will bring in a bill to en-
franchise women when he can find an oppor-
tunity.
In Queensland there exists woman's suffrage
society, founded by Miss Chewings of Adelaide,
and work is being done for the cause in the
education OF public opinion. A portion Of the
public press favor the enfranchisement of
women as do some Of the members Of parlia-
ment; but no leader in that state has declared
for the women. In Tasmania the question has
not attracted any public attention, nor in west
ern Australia, though Adelaide friends have
sent literature and have sought to arouse
effort In South Australia there exists a woman
suffrage league. President. d. Sterling; Sec
retaries, Mrs. Lee and Mr.. NJ. Lehman Of Ade-
lalde. This league has branches and has done
considerable work. The Register, the chief
newspaper of the state, supports woman
cause, and 80 do nine-tenths of the other news
papers. The religious press, that is, the
Christian Colonist and Methodist Weekly are
both heartily for womans vote. The South
Australian Wesleyan conference passed a vote
in favor of parliamentary suffrage for women.
Mr.. Caldwell, MP, introduced bill last ses-
sion which passed the second reading in the
lower house, that is, the assembly. by major
ity OF two, but it had to be laid aside because
1t amends the constitution, and this can only
be done by an absolute majority Of the whole
house, and similarly of the upper house or
senate Our legislature meets every year, and
the bill will be introduced again almost directly,
and this is now June, 1889.
At present woman suffrage has the strongest
hold on South Australia OF any OF the Austral-
ian states and it is likely to become law in this
state first. South Australia always leads the
van In radical politics, for she was founded by
Congregatonalists and Baptists, and so is full
OF the notion of human rights.
The religious journals of Australia. as q
whole, are largely in favor of woman suf-
frage, and all the temperance papers, as might
be expected. are strong for the women. The
granting of the county vote to women in
England and Lord Salisbury's speeches have
greatly affected Australian public opinion
There can be no doubt that the movement
makes rapid way. L think the women have
the municipal vote throughout Australia and
the people look upon it a matter of course.
We have splendid system III public primary
schools and compulsory attendance throughout
Australia, and the girls are equally instructed
with the boys, SO that all stands fair for equal
suffrage.