The Olneyville tribune. (Providence, R.I.) 1893-189?, 1894-03-24
WOMEN VOTING IN NEW ZEA
LAND.
they Did Very wen-Their ElectioneerIng
Methods.

they Did Very Well-Their ElectioneerIng
| Methods.
In the recent general elections for
members OF the New Zealand House
Df Representatives,, for the first time
In any British colony, every woman
over Il years OF age possessed equal
voting rights 10 those held by me.
An amusing account Uf the part
which women played In the contests
Is given by Wellington correspond
ent OF the Birmingham Daily Post
The women OF the colony. he says.
developed a remarkable keenness Tor
politics. They registered in thou
sands, and throughout the whole
election campa On displayed most
laudable desire To learn their new
/ duties Afternoon meetings for
women only, at which the more
/ soc al side OF politics was dealt with,
and the new electors instructed how
TO use their votes, became part Of
every candidates work. Heckling
there often was, and that OF the
keenest description, so much so that
some candidates are said TO have
declared they would sooner face
double the number OF men than be
hauled over the Goals as they were
by these gentle electors With all
the impulsiveness of their sex, the
women became almost more partisan
than the men, and lucky was tie
candidate whom they favored. For
l. 4 ynI l..
meetings, ovations when he rose, and
often showers Of bouquets when he
sat down, while in many cases the
vote OF thanks and confidence was
moved and seconded by some blush
ing electOr who heard ber own voice
for the first time In public. Women
thrOnged his Committee-rOoms and
canvassed for votes with a charming
persistence which would not be de-
MED. The whole battery OF w0man's
arguments, personal and theoretical,
was brought to bear on the recalci-
trant male elector who was suspected
OF leaning TO the other side, and,
as has been said, throughout the
whole OF the campaign the new en-
franchised took a deepinterest IN the
questions at issLe, and in the result
OF the contest. 1t is gratifying 20
be able TO say that, as was expected
would be the case, women's influence
was wholly for good in the conduct
OF one OF the most keenly contested
elections that have ever been held in
New Zealand, and in no case, as far
as can be ascertained, was a candi-
date subjected TO the indignities
which have at other times dlsgraced
political meetings Dissent and dis
approval were or course frequently
expressed, but such tangible forms
OF disapprobatiOn OF the speakers
remarks as rotten eggs were but
very rarely resorted to, and, consider
ing the length and bitterness Of the
contest. it is plcasanter one to look
back upon than any previous one.
The election day was typical New
Zealand November day. The women
as rule cast their votes early, so as
to avoid the crushing which always
occurs in the afternoon and evening,
and they went about their task with
a gravity which betokened their
sense of their possibilities They
showed, it is true, some degree of
nervousness, and good many, when
the eventful hour arrived, displayed
some slight reluctance to enter the
booths, but that was soon overcome
As they saw their more self-possassed
sisters safely emerge from the ordeal,
and received their assurances that it
was very easy. The result was that
when the lolls closed it was esti-
mated tnat one-third OF those who
had recorded their votes were women
and it is to the credit OF the latter
that the number OF informal votes
was surprisingly small