New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-08-31
Gains for the Cause in Many,
a Marked Contrast to the
Mother Country.
SETBACK IN SOUTH AFRICA
New Zealand First to Grant
Privilege-World Movement
of Women Aid to
Universal Peace.
BY Ida Hustled Harper.


With the stubborn refusal of Great
britain TO grant the suffrage to women,
non of her colonies on this question. and
here II will be seen that the further
removed they are from the domination or
,he mother country" the more liberal
is their attitude
New Zealand and Australia, possessing
the greatest independence, gave the mu-
nicpal vote TO women at an early date,
the former in 1866. and since then both
have conferred the complete franchise
This was done in 1893 by New Zealand.
the first country In the world 10 take this
s,en. The initiative was due TO the Labor
and Prohibition parties, each seeing IN
woman suffrage an advantage 70 ITSELF
and the Conservatives were not willing To
20 on record as defeating IL. They did,
houever strike out the eligibility OF
woman for seat in the Parliament and
since then the upper house has blocked
This measure when II has passed the
lower body. There had been some effort
on the part of the women. but small com
pared 70 that made by those Of other
countries, and yet three months after the
nrjy,lege was given Is per cent OF the
whole number of women registered and
the proportion has since increased.
New Zealand also has shown what has
nroyed 10 be the case in every other
country or state where women have oeen
.nf-anchised. that there is an immediate
increase in the percentage of men who
vote and that this is maintained. AS soon
ss women possess this right they realize
the power II carries. and their sense OF
duty impels them 10 take the men OF their
Family 10 the polls, just as they take
them 70 church. II is probably true also
that the evil influences in politics ma II
necessary TO muster more men IN orueT
10 counteract as far as possible the votes
NJ women. New Zealand answers IN
satisfactory way the objection 10 en-
franchising women that they would ne
controlled by the priesthood. Both the
Church Of England and the CathoAc
Church there have long desired TO OBTAIN
state funds for their schools. ont' al
though women have voted Tor twenty
wears the churches have apparently maue
no progress toward this end.
Could Be Abolished Easily
Woman suffrage could at any time De
abolished by a majority OF the pariia-
nent hut there never has been a pro-
nosal 10 do this: on the contrary since
II went into effect all the premiers (who
are not elected by direct vote have tes-
tilted TO tho general satisfaction VIZ"
fits results. These have been more con-
spicuous in the development OF inc
women themselves. their broadened loeds
and ouickencd interest in civic matters
than in radical legislation. but there mas
been a steady Improvement IN the laws
relating 70 womS and children, 20 mar
rage and divorce and all xmas OF so-
cial questions.
The States of Australia. like those Oh
our own country. control the suffrage
within their borders, and South ana
West Australia made this complete LOT
women before 1902. When the states
were federated that year almost the hrst
act OF the National Parliament was "
give the federal franchise TO all women
with eligibility for election 10 tha'
BODY. Now South Wales. Tasmania anu
Queensland were quick to see the
,,-d,,v NJ national. but not state, SUI
(rage for women and soon conferred '''e
privilege. Victoria, under the ADVERSE Ia
nuences of Melbourne, held out ioiie
bu, q few years ago was ooHseu ~
Weld. and now all the women or austria
la about 100000 are fully en1rah-
cbieed Their suffrage associations
1Nfr
hs., turned into political associations
and their support is eagerly sought "
candidates The president OF the laI
%, Of these. Miss Vida Goidstell' ho
t1,ic. been a candidate for the Nauohai
Parliament. and. although not eie0'eO'
has polled a surprisingly large vote,
women In general have shown niue
desire for office, but, as the freiiiei u
South Australia has recently tes'iiieu'
"1heir vote has operated 10 prevent men
OF certain-or. rather. an uhcef '"-"
character from getting into pollucs' anu
II has ouickened the action OF the Les'9
lat,,re In many matters Of SOCIAL anu
INDUSTRIAL legislation" This Is the un-
VARYING testimony wherever women vote
that II improves the quality OF the can
oidates for office.
Some Of the Women Made Laws.
There is by no means space in TINS
article 10 enumerate all the national laws
which have, unqJestionably. been passed.
IN Australia during the last ten years
through the influence or the women VIZ
tiers. but some OF them may be mentohed'
Equal pay for equal work In all
government service, including teie-
graph. telephone and post oinces.
Women on the governing LoaTds OF
the universities and on many puDHS
boards. .,...
Women inspectors Of public institu-
tons. ,
Women physicians on hospital boards
and In public schools. ,...,...,,ds
Protection for wives whose husDdnus
are guilty of cruelty, deserton or IN
h0euty. ..
Legitlmatizing children whose parents
are married after their plrtn. ,.,..
Compelling fathers OF hlegluHlate
children TO pay the mother 80 Tor the
expenses OF confinement etc. .o-
Payment by the government OF 30
on the birth of child 10 all IhotheIo
who apply for 1t. married OF uriiia'
Increased care OF abandoned children
Shorter hours OF work for chlloTeh
Juvenile courts. -
Protection OF young women imnil
grants
Raising the age for marriage.
Strong measures against "Hi'c
saYefs
Protection Of children against I'M
moral literature and suppression OF III
oecent advertising.
Prohibition Of the sale OF opium
Promised to the women by the present