LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1720, 10 April 1913, Page 8

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

$ • THE WOMEN'S SUFFRAGE MOVE--1 MENT. RECENT VISITOR'S VIEWS. ' Sir,— After, a lour of seven weeks through both islands my friend, Miss Hodge, and 1 are- oir the eVo of departure - from New Zealand. Once moro we avail i ourselves of the courtesy you have extended to us during this visit, and ask to be allowed lo send through your i columns a message of thanks and i'arc- , well to the very many friends who havo showered kindnesses on us both. What we value, however, even more than this i personal kindness, is the sympathy which . lias been shown for our mission. The first object of this mission, as regards myself, was to learn all that was . possible in a brief visit concerning women's political activities in New Zealand, in order to better carry on the ; work of a London Association. This body . (the Australian and New Zealand Women Voters' Association) was founded two years ago by Lady Stout and Miss Vida j Goldstein, and has since then not only . made its influence felt as regards Im- ' perial legislation affecting Australian and New Zealand women, but has also been able to help tho cause of woman suffrage • in Britain. This association is not con- . ncctod with auy one of tho English suffrage societies, but holds itself ready to help every flile of them. Tin's help is i given chiefly by public lectures and speeches 'on tho effects of equal suffrage in the Commonwealth and the Dominion, i A second object which brought Miss j Hodge and .me to New Zealand was to make known the work of the International ■ A\ omen's Suffrage*. Alliance, a body which . counts among its members the leading . Suffragists of almost every civilised coun- . try, but which has; as yet. no represent.!-' live from New Zealand. Next June, 1520, the alliance will hold,' at Budapest, . its seventh biennial congress, and it is ■ hoped that some of the New Zealand women who are contemplating a visit to . Europe this yenr will' take tho opportunity of attending this congress. To any such .representative, the International Committee offer a hearty welcome, for t the nation which, twenty years ago, granted full civil rights to its women, stands high in the regard of the Suffrage societies ill everj' part of the world. For the demand for the suffrage is not, as many imagine, confined to the English-speaking races. It is tho practical outcome of a mighty movement, world-wide in its extent. The mothers, sisters, and wives of •all civilised races are awakening v to a consciousness of their place in the evolution of humanity. The demand for votes for women is as universal as it is irresistible. Bat the story of. tho uprising of the womanhood of the world, marvellous as it is, for the lime boing attracts less attention in New Zealand than'..the struggle which is going on in' ono part, Great Britain, "the storm centre of the women's movement,'' • and interest is chiefly fixed on the doings of the so-called "Suffragettes," which, more or less correctly reported, find a place among the cables in every daily paper.. Miss Hodge and I, having had tile privilego of working with these reformers, in the quiet constitutional propaganda incessantly carried on by them, as well as by tho non-militajit societies, in every part of Britain—work which is never chronicled by the ipress— felt bound to explain the position taken by\our militant sisters, whose actions are continually misrepresented, and whose motives aro often wholly misunderstood. Wo have held, almost daily during these seven weeks, meetings, both public and private, in almost ail the chief centres in the Dominion, from Auckland to Invercargill. -We have been deeply touched by the sympathy shown by our audiences, the readiness to listen to the other side of the story, the quick comprehension of circumstances so very far removed from those in this favoured land, the admiration for the self-denial and undaunted i bravery of tho small baud who aro sac- j rificing comfort, fortune, friends, health, i and even life itself to gain for their sis- j ters political rights, tho possession of which will, they believe, open the way to tho social and financial reforms of which Britain stands in dire need. Resolutions of sympathy with those who are making this gallant fight have been passed at every meeting without one . dissentient, voice, though not a few of those' who' voted aro themselves averse to', violent measures. Finally, a movement, .which promises to' be of high practical value, has been set on foot, viz., a Woman Suffrage Union for the British Dominions overseas.. The proposal was first mooted in the .Christchurch' "Star." It was taken up enthusiastically at representative meetings in ■Wellington and Christcliurch, convened by the Mayors of those cities, and it has called forth expressions of appreciation and sympathy from the leaders of almost 'every" woman's organisation throughout the Dominion. The objects of the proposed union are given as follow"To secure for tho women in every part of the Domiri ions overseas the same political Tights as are enjoyed by tho men. aud to arouse women to a fuller consciousness of their duties and responsibilities as citizens." It is proposed to affiliate to this union any and ail of the women's social or political bodies in New. Zealand and Australia which so desire, and auy "suffrage society in the. Dominions where women are not yet enfranchised. Absolute neutrality on party questions will be observed. The one bond of union is adhesion to the principle of equal suffrage. The proposal is to be laid before the women's organisations in Australia first, and then liefore the suffrage societies in South Africa . and Canada. In 1911, it is hoped that a conference of delegates from all the Dominions may be held in London.-and that at this conference a regular constitution /will be drawn up. ' It is fitting that such a schemo as iVs should emanate from New Zealand, ilut part of the Empire where equal suffrage has been established longest, and wliero advantages of the principle have been so clearly 'demonstrated. If wisely carried out, such a union cannot fail favourably to impress the Home Government. It will also establish a new and powerful link between the four great Dominions, removed as these arc from each other by imiyy thousands of miles. .It should further prove a means of bringing the women of the Empire into a new relationship with tho women of the greater world, and lead with no uncertain steps to that better understanding which must ultimately result iii' universal peace.—T am. etc., HARRIET C. NF.WCOMB. Hon. sec. Australian and New Zealand Women Voters' Association (London), and, pro tern., of the Woman Suffrage Union of the British Dominions Overseas. Invcrcargill, April 5. The initial expenses of the union are merely those of typing and postage. Contributions towards these will be gladly received by Miss Hodge, lion, treasurer, pro tern., addressed to the kind care of •Ladv Stout, AVellington. *

LORD WOLSELEY. , Sir,—l have read with Rrcut pleasure your admirable article of March 21) last', with everv word of which (so far as it relates to I.ord Wolseley) I entirely agree. His was undoubtedly, as Sir AYm. Butltr lias s;iid, "The most brilliant brain in the British' Army of his day," and he was abominably treated by the British Gov-M-mnciit and tfib Briti.-h public during; his dtfl in-iii'j years. The following paragraph at p. 422, Vol. 11, of that most interesting book, "The Military Life of tho DuU? of Cambridge," by Colonel Willotighby Vomer, laic Kill'' Brigade (1005), which i>. no! merely a life, of the duke, but a full and reliable history of Hie British Army during iifly years, contains a paragraph relating to Wolseley'which I venture to transcribe:— "Lord Wolsaloy has tiver been famed for his determination never to look at any military situation, . however desperate, from a gleomy 'point of view. His intolorar.e? of all officers who diil so is well known. Hence his attitude, which, when one considers how thoroughly the oxtrcuio graviiv of the situation Tin December, 1803] was known to him, cannot fail lo inspire one with admiration for his steadfast courage. It is now no secret that in the 'dark days' of December, ISII9, when all the politicians were gravely alarmed and depressed at our reverses in South Africa, combined with the serious, inosl. serious, aspect of alfairs on the Continent, about which the geneial public lo this day know but little, the one man who never flinched, and who throughout that terrible period maintaimd his wonted equanimity, and by his example, constant cheerfulness, and ready resource inspired all who sought his advice and opinion (ami they were many) with confidence. was the Commander-in-Chief, whoso services were sub;sr|u'entlv but little appreciated or recognised. This is

the evidence of thoss whose daily duty it was to transact military business with their indomitable chief; aud tho Duke, to whom Lord Wolseley's supreme example oi moral courage was perfectly well known, has in conversation alluded to it lo tho present writer with tbo highest approbation." The motto on tho medal struck in honour of tho first Lord Hardingc—■ Aquam memento rebus in arduis sorvnre menteiu"'*—is equally applicable to Uolseley, his successor in the great oilico of Commander-in-Chief at the Horso Guards.—l am, etc., v H. EYRE-KENNY. New Plymouth. •' Mii'u'ain in adverse hours an even mind. '-Horace, Od. Cap. 11, a, I. BIG GUNS. Sir, In.the nccouitt of the cruiser New U , "! orui "K ,s Dominion it mentions the veiocity of the 12-inch gun as be 1115 -(,000ft., a little matter, nerhaps, , I s ? s J'?'? to exact. While on the subject of big guns, with such monster pieccs us the 14 and 15-inch made, we are still a long way from early times, ni there is a brass gun at''Woolwich of 25 inch bore, and a wrought iron mortar of .10 inches, both, of course, smooth bore.i am, etc., t tt u. . , v - WHITLEY. Lower Hutt, April 9. ,