The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1897-05-01
PRACTICAL WOMEN.

ally draws attention to the politics of
that British colony. 1t is a colony
where experiments in legislation have
been made which would daunt the
boldest spirits in older countries, but
the results have justified the proposers
of the measures. Some of the most
advanced questions in sociology have
there met with practical solution.
Mr. Seldom represents the most adj
vanced movement in New Zealand, and
his foes, of whom, like every able and
aggressive man, he has comfortable
crop, entitle him the seventh devil of
socialism. On his return to New Zea-
land it is the intention of the Govern
ment to bring in a bill for old age
pensions. This is an idea that has
been floating about the world for
many years passed, and here and there
it has been treated by magazine writ
ers and others from a purely theoretic
standpoint, but in New Zealand they
have decided to act and not talk. The
main provision of the bill is that
every person who shall have reached
the age of siXty-fve and who shall
have been resident in the colony for a
period of twenty years shall be en-
titled to a pension of from twelve to
fifteen shillings a week for the re-
mainder of his natural life. This does
not give an old person wealth, but it
prevents him from starving to death,
and he or she may exc out that income
by doing small and light jobs.
The New Zealand land laws are a
model upon which other countries are
beginning to modify theirs and the
labor question has had solution, for
when a man needs work and cannot
obtain it he is sent to one of the Gov
eminent farms.
In nothing has New Zealand shown
it's advancement more than in the po-
litical position of women. The female
vote of New Zealand is no replica of
their husbands and brothers vote, it
is an intelligent vote cast after thor
ough examination of the questions at
issue. On all economic and social ques-
tons it comes out strong. In another
way it shows its influence. No candi-
date of bad character has any chance
at the polls. In choosing candidates
preference is given to the elderly and
experienced, rather than to the young.
Mr.. Seldom was opposed to female
suffrage, but he is perfectly satisfied
with the results in practical working.
In this connection it is interesting 10
read the accounts of the New Lealard
National Council of Women, which
met for its annual session at Christ
church last month. There were Sew
enteen delegates present, representing
the seventeen counties of the colony.
The keynote of the address was that
the Council should not confine its at
tention to subjects affecting women
only, but should deal with whate; er
affected the well-being of the whole
community. And these ladies are no
bespectacled, false fronted, and ner-
vous old maids, but they are thorough
practical women, who have homes to
look after, children to attend to, and,
in some cases, even dinners to cook.
After all it is but return to the prim-
tive customs of our race. In its
cradle, as one may say, the matrons of
the tribes took distinct part in its
councils.
Among the points raised at this con-
ference was one which The Star is
heartily in sympathy with, viz; Equal
pay for equal'work." 1t is one of the
CRYING evils of the day that female
work of equal value receives less pay
than male work. This has in few
cases been remedied, as was shown in
an article in these columns month
or so ago, but the cases are rare. On
these islands the inequality between
salaries of females and salaries OF
males frequently show glazing dis
crepancies. Not only have women not
got equal pay for equal work, but they
have received less pay for better work.
This is exemplified in the salaries of
the Board of Education. Some effort
has been made to improve the condf-
ton of affairs there, but the most
glaring anomalies remain. If women
here would take up their own cause in
a practical and not in a merely ollie
tante and theoretic way, their deliber-
atoms would soon command the re-
spect of the community and they
would obtain for their sex that recog-