MARCHING FORWARD.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXV, Issue 98, 2 May 1913, Page 4

MARCHING FORWARD.

it is to be wondered if—should tlio suffragettes at Home take enough interest in our far away, though pro-j gressive, country to learn the results' of our recent municipal elections, throughout the country—they will be, spurred to fresh endeavours in the, hope of attaining their enfranchisement. New Zealand seems to be challenging America now in regard to the equality of women with men in the meeting chamber. Auckland now boasts of a lady on the City Council, while both in Auckland and Wellington there are two ladies on the Hospital and Charitable Aid Boards, a lady heading the poll in each ol the latter instances. Besides these, goodness knows how many were elected to positions on minor local bodies, such as school committees. It truly seems as if the “Age of Women’ has come, and we are its heralds. They have at last obtained a firm position in the outer ring of the political arena, and the indications now are that it is but a step to the centre—to Parliament itself. That this will come eventually is almost a foregone conclusion. Men have, after much struggle, given the proverbial inch, and women will see to it that they also forfeit the ell. When one of the fair sex makes her appearance as a candidate for even such a high position as a seat in Parliament, public sympathy will be one of the greatest aids in furthering her interests. The people like the novelty of the situation? and the candidate is likely to got many votes “just for encouragement.” It is this kind of feeling which is likely to put the woman candidate well up in the poll and as long as the lady comes forward she relegates mere man to a backward position until the novelty of female candidature has worn off. Much favourable comment has been passed on the action those women have taken in giving such concrete evidence of thqir public spirit. We therefore refrain from adding our quota beyond applauding the sentiment which led them to make their strongest attack on such admirable bodies as the Hospital and Charitable Aid Boards where they will be enabled to do a great deal more for the relief of the sick and poor. It is prdbable also that the future meetings of those bodies on which there are lady members, will be marked by a better tone than has always been the case in the past.