The New York herald., 1922-01-15

COpyfaghI, lSz2 by The NEW YORK HERALD.
New York Herald Bureau.
Washington. D. c.. Jan. IA.
"NIh,hLE the s women Of New Zealand
Nv have had suffrage for nearly
thirty years and for three years
have had the right to hold elective offices.
feminist sentiment as it is known in Eng
land and America has not as yet become
crystallized," Miss Nellie NJ Scanlon. the
New Zealand newspaper and magazine
writer. told a representative OF THE NEW
YORK HERALD in discussing general affairs
in her country.
Miss Scanlon, who is on the editorial staff
of the Free Lance, one of the leading New
Zealand weeklies came to America pri-
marily to report the Washington conference
for syndicate of New Zealand newspapers
Upon the conclusion of the work of the con-
ference she will go about America on
rowing assignment, reporting all phases of
American life for her readers.
ITO understand the status of woman suf-
frage and the general activities of women
In New Zealand one must remember" said
Miss Scanlon, that New Zealand is still. in
sense, pioneer country. Eighty years,
ago the New Zealanders were fighting the
Maoris as you Americans once fought the
Indians on the Western plains There are
several men still living wko remember when
their parents were forever on the alert for
Maori raids. The Maoris were cannibals,
and it was not pleasant matter to be cap
tured by them.
Living In Palmerston North to-day is
Thomas Rogers. the first white person born
in the Wellington district, where the capital
of New Zealand is now located He is only
SO years DID,
Had Wide Newspaper Experience
And Is Native Born as Well
Miss Scanlon herself was born in New
Zealand--but not s3 years ago or anything
like 1t. Also she is pioneer, practically
the pioneer newspaper woman of New Zea-
land In the sense that she has covered every
sort of a story for the newspapers for which
she has worked except criminal court cases,
which are handled by stenographers. She
has not only had wide experience as re-
porter but since the world war has been an
assistant editor. in which capacity she
handled the entire editorial end of her paper
In the absence of the chief editor.
ITO show you the difference between con-
ditions relating to women in New Zealand
and America" continued Miss Scanlon
sat down together to luncheon In a New
Zealand city and that, so far as we could
ever find out, was the largest number of
newspaper women ever gathered together
there at one time. Most women newspaper
workers still confine their activities to re-
porting society events.
"The point ] wish to make clear at the
outset is that economic and Industrial con-
ditions in New Zealand have not developed
to the point, as in older countries with
denser populations. where women find 1t
necessary to resort to concerted action on
a large scale to obtain the recognition in the
political and working world they consider
themselves entitled to.
Ever since I came to America have
been getting acquainted with one woman's
after another. I have talked
with members of clubs, associations. large
snd small, and political organizations. We
bave none Of these in New Zealand. When
say none / mean none in large sense.
Of course there lis the Pioneer Club of We'll
ngton. and all the colleges have their asso-
cations but there is no general club life as
Ii is known in America.
Still Plenty of Room There
And Every One Has House
ITO find the reason for this YOU must
visualize New Zealand as a country where