HOW HISTORY IS MADE

New Zealand Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 6325, 27 September 1907, Page 4

HOW HISTORY IS MADE

The “New York Post” says 'that New Zealand is the “most progressive country in the world”—a statement which, coming as it does with such distinguished authority, we would willingly believe. Unfortunately the same article which contains this flattering acknowledgment is so inaccurate in every other statement it makes that we are obliged to believe that the faith of the “Now York Post” is like St. Paul’s—the.evidence of things hot seen. It tells us- that our Legislature is about to undergo a momentous [ change—no less than the substitution of an elective Upper House 1 for the present Chamber of nominated mem. bers: ard that when the process is complete “the New Zealand Parliament will bo unique among law-making as- ‘ sembliee.” The new Upper Chamber is bo bo elected by the House of Representatives,' in this particular following to some extent phe lead of France. Further, women are to be qualified for a seat in the Upper Htmse—’an anomaly that grows more striking and more confusing when we find that! they are entitled. equally with men to vote for members of the Lower Chamber.” Having thus stated the facts of the case, the “New York Poet” proceeds to make its comments on the inoonsoquentiality of the reform, and to speculate on the possibilities of collusion. It might be possible, for instance, for an “influential feminist leader” to strike a bargain with a candidate for the Lower House, on the bovine principle of reciprocal scratching—she votes for him, be nominates her- Further, it is evident to our ,New York contemporary tint we Now Zealanders, the most progressive of j men, cannot get rid of the old idea I that woman’s influence is best exerted: m indirect ways. Either she knows! what she wants, and then someone 1 else must get it for her, or if she can get it for herself then she must be told what she wants. So is history made. And, as history is philosophy teaching by example, progressive New Zealand may yet serve to point the moral when some New York debating) society discusses the possibilities of woman in the field of politics.