POLITICAL NOTES

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LXXIV, Issue LXXIV, 2 September 1919, Page 4

POLITICAL NOTES

Encouraged by a declaration by both political leaders in favor of women having the right to stand for Parliamentary elections; Mrs W- R. Wilson, oh behalf of the Auckland •: Women's Club, is in! Wellington for the purpose of bringing personally before Sir Joseph Ward and Mr Massey a. unique scheme to attain the women's object (says the Auckland Star).; ! They desire to avoid a, direct political struggle against men. Consequently, it is suggested that the North and South Islands be divided into two electorates, each returning a woman candidate upon the votes of 1-oth sexes on the preferential voting system. This would secure four » special female representatives. Women will also,1 it is proposed, participate in the election of 7& male members. It is proposed to take the poll in both elections on the same day. The scheme is too novel to secure a prompt expression of politicians' views ', but it is safe to assume the women will have to be 'content with the right to participate in the ordinary hurly-burly of the election as rivals to male candidates before any experiment of special representation is likely to be tried.