A LADY COMMERCIAL.

Press, Volume L, Issue 8480, 11 May 1893, Page 5

A LADY COMMERCIAL.

A CHAT WITH MRS SAWKINS.

In these days of proposed female franchise and other evidences of the ladies desiring to be quite on an equality with the male sex, it should hardly have seemed strange that a lady commercial traveller should be in our midst. Still such & phenomenon was an experience in interviewing which the writer—though pretty experienced in the art and mystery—had never yet had_ Learning that the only lady commercial traveller in Australasia—that is, of coarse, entirely distinct from the genus known as book fiend—was on a visit to Christehurch, a representative of the Press sought an interview with her yesterday, a request which was most courteously granted. Of course the first question which the thousands oE readers of the Pkess will ask—especially the lady readers—What is Mra Sawkins 'like-? Well, she is flight inl>uild, well made, and with a prepossessing -face. A wellshaped head is crowned with fair, hair, and as becomes a lady who has •■* travelled" through England and America, there is a determined look in her face, a sort of look that would n<£t take "No" foe an answer when the sale of v line of goods was on the tapis. Mrs fcJawkins has that charming quality in a woman, A soft voice, and one can well inragiue how,the hard dry men of commerce with whom she hae to do business cannot help giving an order whun a&ked in the dulcet tones of a lady.

"How did.l first start in this line," said the lady ; " well, a lady friend of mine in England took up book hawking, and I had a try at it. After six months of it I gave it up. Then after a brief interval the brilliant idea struck mc, why not start out commercial travelling. Of course, there are lines, such as hardware, &c., which would not suit a lady, but I selected one which I think does—viz., perfumery and fancy goods. Well, I started out a little nervous as to xoy success, bat, still determined to do my best. I met with the utmost courtesy and consideration from my, male friends in the same line, and I travelled all over England, meeting -with a good deal'of success. I.found one advantage in. being a woman, that a man of business would give mc the preference over t half -a - dozen mea who might be waiting to see him. Well, matters progressed so well that I came out to .Australia for the firm I represent, and travelled there for some time. Then I was despatched to America. Iα America I travelled for three years, from San Francisco to Canada, not taking a circuit like some male travellers do, but going, right through the country, visiting each town. Then I went back to, England again, and after some more work in the old country came out to Australia on the first trip of the Monowai with the principal of the firm I represent, as he intended opening branches in Australia and New Zealand. Our head-quarters is Dunedin and from thence 1 work through the colony. How do I like the life? Well,, very much indeed. You see I have got used to travel now, and can make my way almost anywhere with freedom and independence. There is one thing I notice in the colonies as compared with America, and that is that it takes mc far longer to do my business in your cities than in America. One has to call five or six times at a place of business before a merchant can be seen, whilst in America they are always right there in their offices during certain hours.'"' After a little chat with Mrs Sawkina on journalistic matters, her husband being a Napier Pressman, the interview terminated.

CABLE NEWS.