New-York tribune., 1906-07-07
LADY WARD TALKS.
NesU Zealand Women Feminine
Though They Vote, She Says.

The women OF New Zealand are very feminine %
according 10 Lady Ward, wife Of the Prime Min
ister of the country where women have voted for
ten twelve years They noted for their good
dressing. it seems very fond of their homes.
and have desire TO speak in meeting.
Sometimes women DO speak at political meet
ings,' said Lady Ward TO Tribune reporter at the
galdorf-Astoria yesterday morning, ''but It gen.
orally turns afterward that they were visiting
Americans, perhaps English women. No, We
don't sit on juries and don't run for Parliament
The law would have to be changed before We could
do so. but don't believe want to. Perhaps
some time in the future it will come to that but
think Il will be long time. We did have a Mayor
esS once in a town in the northern part OF the
colony. but no seems inclined to repeat the
experiment. In fact we are very busy with our
domestic affairs and quite content for the pres
ens 10 leave the management OF public affairs to
the men. The women of New Zealand place their
homes before every other consideration. and their
domestic problems just serious those OF
any other country. Our young women would
rather be stenographers than domestic servants
and we haven't found any way OF getting on with
out servants.
'But don't imagine that we not interested in
politics and that don't vote. There isn't a
woman in New Zealand who doesn't know every
member Of Parliament either by sight or by repu-
tation. and there isn't who can't talk intel
Mgently about political questions. Out the
farms and in the villages it is just the same as in
the cities and # makes life ever much more
interesting. NO mdLteT HIOIu you meet you VIII
always find one subject of common interest People
here don't seem to be much interested in politics.
and your don't vote, l am told. Isn't 1t
strange? Perhaps it is because our country is
smaller that We take 50 much more interest In Its
affairs.
Our elections are most interesting events, and
the women do a great deal Of eectioneerng just as
they do IN England. they don't do much
afternoon teas lavorite method Of winning
.s11-1lsF becomes Of the babies when the mothers
are out electoneering? Why, / really don't know
suppose % d there Is Of fTsy ibe Pep9aps the
take care Of one anothers baples never hea'o u
:;Do the native women vote? Yes, certainly.
,sIiSscafSon Is a resdeIce of twelve months in
the colony and three months in the electorate
fust as much interest in politics as the white
ssronen and are thoroughly well posted in every
thing concerning native affairs. We have an
aboriginal population OF 10000 and they have their
O9 The Pesson that the Women OF New Zealand
have so much time for politics is perhaps, because
they do not have to carry such burden OF phllah-
thropic work as the women OF less favored Iaaas,
Lady Ward & dG neF 4e5 So n Were Il ntdTested but
an she could recall was 2 veterans nome IoF oId @
Daaar5 5tgtzad ~ hE, he stste the rs Of sun
arduous one. Then there is navy league. a
interest the youth of the country In the navy ana
which endeavors TO make things pleasant tor me
society LADY Ward is vice-presdent. Then there
Improvement societies, composed OF both men and
women, but other than the foregoing Lady Ward
could think Of no line Of altruistic and non-po-
iitical activities in which the women OF New
Zealand we're engaged.
I'VE have poor people," she said. There is
plenty OF work for everyone, and not beggar IN
the country
The educational opportunities of New Zealand
are practically equal for men and women, Lady
ward said but co-education is not the invariabe
rule. Some institutions co-ecucational; others
are not and even the high schools often separate
the sexes. All the professions are open 70 women,
and there a good many women doctors and
lawyers out no women reporters, except on the
weekly papers. ,
Il think the women are very contented," L Lady
leave the country, except for the sake of seeing
ne rest OF the world, and when they do go they
9ivyavs want to come back have lived there all
nv life, and / never any country that liked
better"
Lady Ward had not been long enough in America 1ea
20 form any 'iupressions but she SAG. as S Sne
glanced out of her window at the Waldorf, that
there seemed to be great deal Of brick and stone
n New York. This Impression was counter
balanced however, by drive through Central
Park and elong Riverside Drive on Thursday. She
Expressed great admiration for President Roose-
welt. and also for Princess Alice whom she met
IN md