Meet the LADIES

New Zealand Listener, Volume 2, Issue 35, 23 February 1940, Page 48

Meet the LADIES

RS. JOHN A LEE was born at M the beautiful township of Granity, on the west coast of the South Island, but left that spot as a girl, living with her parents in ‘Canterbury in sight of the Southern Alps and at Papanui. She was in ihe North Island in her-teens, and as she worked for her livelihood managed to see many towns. Mrs.:Lee lived with her husband in Auckland after the end | of the war. During many elections Mrs. | Lee was a frequent speaker upon political platforms until heart.trouble compelled her to refrain fram public speaking from 1930 until-prior to the last election. In 1931°Mr. and Mrs, Lee ‘Became responsible for ‘the welfare of the three boys of her late sister. A little over two. years ago Mrs, Lee had her first introduction to the microphone. Singularly enough, her first-~broadcast from 2ZB coincided with a political broadcast by Mr: Lee from Parliament. There is no record ‘of who had the last word, In "addition to radio talks and’ participa-' tion in political meetings and the rearing and caring for three boys, Mrs. Lee found time between 1930 and 1935 to teach’ herself. typing and to. type Mr. Lée’s first three novels. It is rumoured that she plans some, day to. write a novel or two herself. She has faith in and love for the country of her birth. She is the fortunate possessor of a contralto voice of good speaking quality, and her platform appearance is as satisfactory as her microphone personality. Conversation with Mrs, Lee soon causes one to conclude that she is no less keen a politician than her husband, even if she is known rather for her non-politicial broadcasts. She is convinced that women have played a-very large part in New = land, but have a large part to play in public life. Mrs. Lee is emphatic that women’s place in the world will be much larger when they are more insistent on their rights to help direct the affairs of their beautiful country. (Next week — " Jill," of 3ZB)