A Lady of Resource.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXV, Issue XXXXV, 10 December 1903, Page 4

A Lady of Resource.

During the week preceding the byelection at Leamington, at which t'he Hon. Alfred Lyttelton, the new Secretary of State for the Colonies, haid to seek re-election on talcing office under the Crown, the candidate was unfortunately confined to l*'s bed, and was not able to address any meetings. Nevertheless, he got in by a majority of 190 votes, his success 'being largely due to the devotion of his wife, who made it her business to fullil all her husband's public engagements. For a whole week, at all times of the day. Mrs Lyttelton went about, speaking before assemblies of working men and women, and touring through the furthest districts of the constituency. By this means she won over many waverers of unsettled sonvictions. It is stated by a London paper that one well-known character in Leamington remarked in reference to Mrs Lyttelton's camiroign 011 behalf of her husband : "Well, the successful candidates of the future will be those who take t'lwir wives to do their work." Mrs Lyttelton is a very convincing speaker, and possesses a very lucid style. At one big meeting where she was tackled about the dear loaf, she was able to expound the arguments in favour of the retaliation principle in such a way as to bring right round to her way of thinking a previously hostile audience. '-'Mrs Lyttelton," we are told, "lends a grace to any platform. Her rather massive but finely chiselled face is softened by expressive serious eyes, and tender, sensitive lips. She is also gifted with a sweet, but strong and resonant voice, that carries to the far end of a large and crowded hall, so that 110 tone of her words is lost." It appears that the Unionist canvassers found Mrs Lyttelton's campaign had had a very marked influence in deciding the people how to vote. In one case it is said that a working man remarked that his wife had told him to vote for Mrs Lyttelton's husband, and, as he said, "he would have to for the sake of peace at home. Other "horny-banded toilers" with a decided preference for the other candidate proved as wax in her hands. "Are you my friwvd ?" she asked a gas-worker on one occasion. The man looked doubtful. "Will you vote for my husband ?" pursued Mrs Lyttelton. The worker plucked up coura®}. "No, ma'am, I'm afraid not," he answered. ' "Come, come,'' said the lady persuasively, don't you want your wages raised ? My husband is fighting the workingmen's battle. "Well, if that is the case," was the reply, "I'm with you heart and soul." If this was not the quickest political conversion on record we should like to hear of a quicker one.