WOMEN AND THE MAYORAL ELECTION.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 170, 11 April 1908, Page 11

WOMEN AND THE MAYORAL ELECTION.

During-tho past few .'days most of .tho women of ■ "Wellington 'have received visits from' people earnestly'inquiring whether their names were on tho electoral roll, and whether they intended to vote for Mr. Aitken or for Mr. Hislop. According to tho answer given so has been the continuation of the conversation. Sometimes tho lady of the liouso has responded icily that her husband -is-"looking-after.'-these matters, thank you":' sometimes she has ■ been glad to bo , saved tho trouble of going herself' to -enrol her name; and, often sho, .has been, pleased to havo'a ; little talk about. a contest that is interesting 1 Welljngtpn more • than ahy _ pre : rious mayoral election., The general opinion seems to bo that tho women of this'.city aro pleasant to ■ canvass, that they aro polite, kindly, and : interested. If tho canvasser looks very tired,, as, well she may, considering' tho distances she tramps in tho excess of her devotion, sho will probably be invited to have a cup: of tea, an invitation that she will often very thankfully accept. Ono canvasser 'reports that in the courso of her, wan-, dorings slid received littlo confidences. In one house she was invited into tho heart of. the. homo' to see 'its greatest: treasure,, which .' turned out to bo-a threerweeks'-olcl baby'. with a thatch of long black hair. ■ In another'she had to inspect-a large collection of family portraits,_ arid in. a third sho was invited to dinner with the, family. Yes, tho women of Wellington are good, to canvass. / As canvassers the women are" doing their ; fair share : of work. : One of the candidates has sevoral ladies' committees' working for him very, enthusiastically and- systematically; the other does not forces,' but has committees; of lieri and ?women in the different districts. For each,candidate devoted -women are,'working all day . loiig. : \lt is, amazing, ..to, see what-energy and vim they put: into the wgrk, and-how many aro found willing'to .undertake it; There ,is; no great (principle' at stake, no startling reform to bo gained;,- it, is,',as far ;as .the .women 'at least aro'cohceriicd, 'inerely.- a' contfcst between' two' men each ■ of''whom ; has been; elected for re-' peatorl'^terms' as;chief, magistrate of:'the City,' and yet.the'worneii who are willing to .undcrtake':the exhausting-task of canvassing'from" house Ho : house,,'aro',on both sidea' to be reckoned: fcy the score.;.. Tlio ordinary woman: oares nothing for municipal politics,' nothirig ifor'questions of municipal administration. If' sho does not votei with her husband it is probably bccauso she -has formed 'her own opinion'of:-the merits: of tho candidates; and with,'licr tho question is a purely-personal ono;' -'.-■. ' '; - '• ' '