The sun., 1894-01-28
WOMEN OF NEW ZEALAND.
How They Recorded Their Ballots on Their
Eventfn FIrst Election DaY.

personal letter written by n visitor in Well
lington. New Zealand. contains an account OF
tho recent election in which women for the rst
time exercised their new privilege OF suffrage.
The fateful day has como and passed."
says the writer. The cniranchised woman
has recorded hor vote. placed 1t In tho ballot
box. and the political machine Is still in work
ing order. Feminine feathers and furbelows
are still unrurlled neither was there n symp-
tom Of the destruction to best bonnets' so
wesrisomely prophesed by the anta0o onistio
Englishman.
Sunshine. blue skies and a general air OF
festivitv. combined with businesslike alert
ness. have pervaded Wellington for two days.
Throughout New Zealand the prediction Pc
riod has been characterized by orderliness
and earnestness. Naturally the newly entran-
chsed body Of citizens. the women. needed
political instruction. and they have had It
They have been dOsed with platitudes. entan-
ged in the liquor question. and primed with
theories on religious teaching in schools.
Tho eve Of the battle was glorious night
and sober old Darby and Joan and enthusi-
astic young Phyllis and Strephon turned out
in force to hear the various speakers. Ono old
lady near me In the crowd said: Ny vote is
going to Stout; he got us women tho vote. and
we mum see him in top OF the poll.' And so
they did.
on electlon morning, nj " a. NJ, women OF
various ages and degrees accompanied ny
fathers. brothers, or sons mi ight be- seen walk
ing in the direction OF the polling booths.
Meanwhile the carriages were calling Mt the
cottages Tor the house mothers, who tidied
up a BIT from their washing. and, with thor
small children, rode of to the polls in great
glee. The New Zealand woman is Of average
height. with clear complexion that tells OF
iiLesn air and cold water and auGurs well for
the future OF the nation. In dress she is sem
sible and not a devOteo Of the fashion book.
As a committee woman in tho election she
showed praiseworthy tendency to 90 in for
steady. serious work.
The poll closed at I p. NJ and soon after 3
the crowds gathered near the new pa per ofilces.
They We're orderly and good tempered. and al
though the public houses were open all day.
cases Of drunkenness were very rare. | have
travelled in many lands hut in no other coun-
try havo scen such courtesy and unobtrusive
chivalry to women. whether old or young. as
by New Zealand men Of every condition ana
rank. The status OF n New Zealand woman
Is much higher than that Of her sister in Aus
tralia or England. and she l. treated accord
ingly. one result OF the election was To show
that the women OF good sense outnumber the
women faddists, though they may not outtalk
them. Another Ia the educatiyR influence
upon the present and future mothers. The
woman who put her vote in the ballot box
then did not lessen her capabilities as n wife
aud mother. but her horizon has been en-
larged and her ideal Of healthy citizen ship
and self-respectinE home life cannot fail 10
grow In a corresponding degree. Tho first
step in the big experiment OF adult suffrage
has proved in every respect a success"