Women of New Zealand.

Hastings Standard, Issue 350, 17 June 1897, Page 4

Women of New Zealand.

THEIR OCCUPATIONS

In the census papers there are 1285 described as " independent ladies ; " but the truly independent are those who have boldly entered the industrial field. Coming to the unusual occupations, it is noted that three fvomen describe themselves as carrying on the business of phrenologists, five others are described as " showman lecturers," one is a "theatre manager," two are "professional athletes," and three have adopted the profession of " barbers." Three women have undertaken the duties of tourist guides, while two others have settled down to the prosaic but useful business of pawnbrokers.

Dealing in money seems to present unusual fascination to the sex, for no fewer than fifty-two laclks are engaged in the business of financiers and moneybrokers. In connection with insurance business three are engaged as travelling canvassers, while four hava had the courage to pursue the avocation of " book fiend. 1 ' One lady is an auctioneer and one a land-broker. One luly is a traveller to a fancy goods business, while two travel in drapery, and a number of others in various other departments of trade ; one lady deals in marine stores, and two others drive milk carts. There are two lady coffin - makers, one tanner, two opticians and 210 barmaids.

The list of lady butchers includes one who describes herself as a " slaughterman." One lady is a jolly miller, and three other ladies have sawmills, and there are four lady brewers ; one lady is an officer in the gasworks, another is a brick and tilemaker, and another works in a pottery. There is one lady goldsmith with three lady assistants in the same calling, and there are ladies carrying on business as gardeners, fruitgrowers, wattle farmers, poultry farmers, and pisciculturists. There is one lady engaged as an alluvial goldminer, and three ladies are engaged in mining for coal ; three spirited ladies are engaged in gum-digging, and two others are blacksmiths. Again, three ladies are tea-sorters, and one fulfils the expert duties of a wool - classer. There are two lady carters, one kauri gum buyer and six importing merchants, while one occupies the responsible position of a " pier service officer." One is engaged as a storeotyper and two are employed as Avitcliraakers, while the new business of bicycle-making, aud the saddlery, sailmaking, in fact, all the minor as well as the larger manufactories and industries have lady representatives on their working staff.

Thirteen ladies have declared themselves as " irregular medical practitioners," and apparently carry on the healing art at their peril, without having the fear of the law before their eyes. The bent of another lady's mind is towards horseflesh rather than the ills to which man is heir, and she has boldly taken up the calling of a "veterinary surgeon." But no fewer than eighteen ladies have adopted the profession of a chemist and druggist, with two others who are assistant dispenser and clerk in the drug business. Under the classification of University professor,

lecturer, &c., another lady has enrolled herself as being by profession an " anatomist," and th? profession of a dentist also has been carri?d by storm, no fewer than eighteen women having qualified thornr-clves for the business of repairing Nature's failings in the human mouth. A hundred and twenty-four women have enrolled themselves under the designation of the " Irregular Clergy." The ranks of the barrister and solicitor are graced by one of the fair sex, while there are fourteen law-clerks, besides a number of aspirants to the University legal degrees. There are fourteen lady journalists, twenty-one reporters and seventy-one compositors. That all this has been accomplished noiselessly and without friction may be taken as a proof of the existence of greater freedom and equality of opportunity in New Zealand than are to bs found in most countries.—Lyttelton Times.