NEW ZEALAND’S POLITICAL WOMEN

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 200, 12 November 1927, Page 17 (Supplement)

NEW ZEALAND’S POLITICAL WOMEN

There Are Seven Women In the Dominion To-day Who Have Shared the Joys and Sorrows of the Prime Minister’s Office .. . Thou upon the Statesman's Path Have cast the Quiet Light of Domestic Happiness.'’

Written for THE SUN by

ERIC RAMSDEN.

EW can deny the influence that women through Ministers of State L d guided by their counsels. The published and unpublished diaries and letters of women of high

position in the 19th century show their deep interest in matters political and their knowledge of affairs from the inside. On occasion they have even acted as party whips.

Charles James Fox wrote in 1806 from the House of Commons to the Duchess of Devonshire, one of the sreat political hostesses of the day: “Pray speak to everybody you can to come down or we shall be lost on the slave trade. Pray, pray, send anybody you see!”

There are seven women in New Zealand to-day who have experienced the joys and sorrows of office as the *ife of the Prime Minister.

Scarcely out of her teens when she became the wife of a Cabinet Minister, Lady Stout was 25 when she as-

sumed the responsibilities of second hostess in the land. Sir Robert and f-ady Stout only recently celebrated the golden anniversary of their mar rtage. Nowadays they reside in their home on The Terrace, in Wellington. The ex-Chief Justice has returned to the halls of Parliament which knew him so well in the full vigour of his e arly manhood, as a member of the Legislative Council. No couple in hiew Zealand official life have spent a ®ore happy married life, or worked together more harmoniously, than “these twa.”

These many years past Mrs. John B&l'ance, widow of the great Liberal loader of the ’nineties, has made her home in Wanganui, where, as she Wr °te the other day, “I was glad to Return. My husband is laid to rest er e, and here I can recall so many a PPy memories of the past.”

Mrs. Seddon, undoubtedly one of the most influential as well as able c °nsorts of a New Zealand Premier, •tili receives the allegiance of stal-

: warts of her party at her home, Eccle- : ston Hall, Wellington. Sir Joseph [ Ward generally leads the delegation ! of West Coasters, which each year | calls on the widow of “the chief,” ’ after placing a wreath on the monu- > ment that faces Parliament House. ■ Though Lady Hall-Jones’s regime was short she must be included among 1 the wives of our Prime Ministers. 1 She, too, lives in Wellington. Her of the office, as was the Lady Mackenzie, wife of is Mackenzie, was but a preliminary to a lengthy sojourn in London as the wife of the High Commissioner. For some time past Dame Christina Massey, widow of the late Prime Minister, has resided with members of her family in Auckland. Like Mrs. Seddon, the wife of her husband’s consistent political enemy, she has known the bitterness and sorrow of a loved one dying in office. Mrs. Ballance had precisely the same experience. Lady Bell, who resides

-*■ T y, near Well-

ington, for a few weeks shared with her distinguished husband, following Mr. Massey’s death, the highest office New Zealand has to offer. Both Sir Joseph Ward and Sir Thomas Mackenzie are widowers. Lady Ward, one of the most gracious ■women in the political life of the Dominion, shared the long apprenticeship of her husband before he assumed office in 1906. On one memorable occasion, then a member of the National Government, Sir Joseph Ward paid tribute on the floor of the House to a wife "with all those qualities, virtues and graces, which not only adorn life, but make life worth living.” Lady Ward’s recent death was a heavy blow to the veteran ex-Prime Minister. The Prime Minister and Mrs. Coates married in Wellington in 1914. Mrs.

Coates , was born in England. She is a daughter of Dr. Coles, of London. Little did the political seers imagine in 1911 that the young member for Kaipara with the belligerent moustache would one day lead a Reform Government.

When the trial of strength with Sir Joseph Ward came about in 1912. prior to the accession of the Mackenzie Government to office, Mr. Coates voted in favour of the Liberal Party, and did not enter the same lobby as Mr. Massey. He assisted in defeating the Stop-Gap Ministry, however, and. after accepting Mr. Massey as his leader, was until the end, one of the late Prime Minister’s most stalwart henchmen. So Mrs. Coates’s association with the party her husband now leads has continued practically from their entry into the Political Promised Land. She sees him to-day with a political majority unequalled since the halcyon days of Seddon. For these modern days Mr. and Mrs. Coates have a large family. Though there are five daughters in the Ministerial residence in Moles worth Street there is no son. Sheila, the eldest child, was born in 1915. Barbara came along two years later. Patricia is just six and a-half, Iri. rangi is five, and Josephine Gwendoline, the baby, is three. Mrs. Coates knew ihe anxiety of a wife with a husband on active ser vice, as Mr. Coates served in Francs from 1917 until 1919, when he returned with the rank of major and the Military Cross. During the election of 1925 she accompanied the Prime Minister on his whirlwind tour ri the Dominion. No one was more delighted than Mrs. Coates with the landslide in favour of her husband's party.

Yet with office goes responsibility It is some years since New Zealand has had such a youthful lady gracing the home of the Prime Minister of the day. So Mrs. Coates’s task has not been any lighter on that account. The Mothers' Helpers’ Association,

Plunket Society, Red Cross Society, Women’s Borstal' Association, Women’s Division of the Farmers’ Union, Girl Guides* Association, New Zealand Basketball Association, the Pioneer, Lyceum and Wellington Women’s Clubs, are all bodies in which she takes a keen interest. Mrs. Coates accompanied the Prime Minister to England when he attended the Imperial Conference. Like

Mrs. Bruce, w-ife of the other youthful Prime Minister of our Empire, Mrs Coates makes a point of travelling as much as possible with her husband despite the many calls upon her time. No other New Zealand woman has a greater record of public service than Lady Stout —from the year 1884, the date of her husband’s first Ministry, until 1925 when, owing to illhealth she gave up nearly all her activities. “But I am still interested in everything that promotes the wellbeing of women, of children, and of the men of my native land,” she wrote quite recently. Nearly 40 years ago Lady Stout

j was one of the foremost fighters for women’s suffrage, a battle which, years later, she continued in England. In the political campaigns of her husband, like a good wife, she was at his side. But probably the finest and most far-reaching community work with which she has been associated is the Plunket Society. Few people know that

Lady Stout was responsible for bringing Sir Truby King from Dunedin to address the historic meeting at Government House, Wellington, which resulted in this wonderful organisation for the preservatiqn of infant life being formed. Lady Stout comes of pioneer stock. John Logan, her father, was secretary to the Superintendent of Otago until the abolition of the provinces. Both were interested, like their daughter, in temperance and social reform. In 1926 the women of Wellington, in recognition of a life of service in their interests, presented Lady Stout with a portrait of herself. Replying, she said, "To earn the esteem and regard of women who count makes

me proud but sincerely humble.” ‘T had really no interests apart from those of my husband,” replied Mrs. j Ballance in response to an inquiry of j mine. “His views, though some- j what advanced in some directions, were always of the deepest interest to me. I look back and recall with some degree of consolation how heartily and cordially I was with him in his policy and how earnestly I did my utmost to help him in any way that I could.” Mrs. Ballance was the second

daughter of Mr. David Anderson, of Wellington. Although she came of Scots parentage she was born in County Down, Ireland. She came with her parents to New Zealand when an infant. Her marriage took place in 1870. Wanganui became her home. Again to quote Mrs. Bal-

lance: "Here we spent many happy years for we both loved the place and had so many interests in common." Later, as Mr. Ballance’s political interests developed, they moved to Wellington. After the death of the Liberal leader his widow spent some years in England and on the Continent. Wanganui, the scene of her early wifehood, however, is once again her home. Few wives of Ministers of the Crown in any part of the Empire have associated themselves so intimately with public affairs as did Mrs. Seddon from the time of her husband's election to the Arahura Road Board in 1872 until his death at sea, in the zenith of his power, in 1906. Mrs. Seddon is an Australian. She was the daughter of Captain Spotswood, a retired Indian Army officer After her marriage with Mr. SeddOD in Melbourne, she settled in 1869 al Waimea, on the West Coast. Her ready tact and womanly sym pathy were always a tower of strength to her husband as he steadily climbed fortune’s ladder. The statesman used to say, when he had attained a position never since equalled by any New Zealand politician, that the only opponent be feared in his progress was the mother of his children. By the time he gained the Premier- 1 ship, which he held for 13 years, Mrs. j Seddon was sufficiently conversant with electioneering to assume charge of his constituency. More than a • passing influence, too. was exercised ! upon his legislation. The Old-Age | Pensions Bill was a special interest,, I and the Premier’s wi£» never ceased i

her labours until it was safely on the Statute Book. Eleven children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Seddon while their way in the world was still in the making. Two girls died in infancy. The eldest gave his life for the Empire in the Great War. The survivors are: Mrs. Bean (Christchurch), Mrs. Frank Dyer, Mrs. Morice, Mrs. Knox Gilmer, Mrs. Hay (Wellington), Mrs. Woods, who lives in England, Mr. Stuart Seddon and Mr. T. E. Y. Seddon, M.P., the holder of his father’s Parliamentary seat, with the exception of one term, since Mr. Richard Seddon’s death. Dame Christina Allen Massey, like Mrs. Seddon, is an Australian by birth. The daughter of Walter Pam, who subsequently settled at Mangere, she was born in New South Wales. Mrs. Massey came, as a child, to the land with which she has been so long associated. Her marriage to the future Prime Minister took place in 18S2 at Mangere, where Mr. Massey was farming. There they resided until 1913, when, just prior to Mr. Massey’s entering

upon his 13 years of office, they settled in Wellington.

After Mr. Massey’s death the King expressly desired that Mrs. Massey should accept the Order of Grand Dame of the British Empire. The Prime Minister, like Mr. Seddon, had steadfastly refused a title. Dame Christina Massey has three sons and two daughters: Messrs. W. W., J. N. and F. G. Massey. Mrs. G. Lawrence

Taylor and Mrs. Cedric W. Salmon.

Dame Christina has always been keenly interested in all movements for the welfare of women and children. She is president of the Wellington branch of the Plunket Society. The Society for the Protection of Women

and Children, Boys' Institute. Community Club, Free Kindergarten, and the Victoria League are bodies which have all had her support. She was president of the Soldiers’ Club in Sydney Street. Wellington, from its inception until Us close. Though Dame Christina never brought herself prominently before the public, she worked consistently and well despite many years of illhealth. During the years that Mr. Massey occupied the Leadership of

the Opposition, a seemingly hopeless task, she was ever at his side encouraging and spurring him on. In the years of office she was his faithful comrade. As it was said of Mrs. Disraeli it might be said with equal truth of Dame Christina Massey: "It is the spirit of man that says ‘I will be great,’ but it is the sympathy of woman that usually makes him so.” Lady Bell, her successor, was born in South Australia. The third daughter of the Hon. W. Robinson, M.L.C., of Cheviot Hills, she was married to Sir Francis Bell in 1878. There were two sons and four daughters of the marriage. One son followed in his father’s footsteps by representing a Wellington seat in the House. Captain Bell subsequently gave his life for his country in the Great War. As her husband was a member of the first Reform Government, Lady Bell has been intimately associated with Ministerial life since 1912. As Mayoress of Wellington she also had experience as the wife of a public man. But in no sense, she says, is she a “political woman.” Both Lady Rhodes and Lady Pomare have been connected with the social activities of the Reform Government since the party went into office under Mr. Massey. Lady Rhodes is still another Australian who has identified herself with the political life of this country. Born in Victoria, where her father, Mr. Walter Clark, was a well-known stationholder, she married Sir Heaton Rhodes in 1891, and New Zealand has been her home ever since. Her husband’s politics have always interested her. Lady Rhodes has even addressed (he electors on his behalf. Besides' being associated with many social activities in Christchurch, she is also a Lady of Grace of the Order of St. John in England. One of the most popular hostesses in her party. Lady Pomare’s home at Belmont, Lower Hutt, has been the scene of many interesting gatherings. On occasions, such as the visit of the Japanese Fleet, the American Fleet, and the Faipule§ from Samoa, these visitors have been the guests of Sir Maui and Lady Pomare. . A native of the Gisborne district, where she was educated. Lady Pomare was married in 1903. There are three children—Ana, Naera and Te Rakaherea. For her organisation of the "Lady Liverpool and Mrs. Pomare Maori Soldiers’ Fund” during the war she was awarded the 0.8. E. Jiss Mary Downie Stewart, sister of the Finance Minister, was her brother’s Mayoress when he was Mayor of Dunedin. During his political career she has been his companion, nursing and caring for him. and generally devoting her life to his interests. For her war services Miss Stewart was awarded the 0.8. E., the French “Reconnaissance Francaise” and a Belgian decoration. Mrs. McLeod and Mrs. K. S. Williams are wives of Ministers who hold important positions. Mrs. Williams is a grand-daughter of Archdeacon Henry Williams, who settled in the Bay of Islands in 1823. Mrs. McLeod also comes of pioneer stock. Her family were among the earliest set- , tiers in the Wairarapa. | Mrs. Hawken, wife of the Minister ! of Agriculture, is an Aucklander. Her ! father was the late Mr. Edwin Hesketh. Mrs. R. A. Wright had a long ! experience as Mayoress of Welling i ton, Mrs. J. A. Young comes from Hamilton, while Mrs. Nosworthy, Mrs. j Rolleston and Mrs. Anderson are . J all southerners.