HOW THE WOMEN VOTED.

Otago Witness, Issue 2086, 15 February 1894, Page 22

HOW THE WOMEN VOTED.

The Clerk of Writs some time since instructed the returning officers of the various electoral districts to furnieh him with a return of the number of women voters on the rolls of their several districts, and the number of women who voted at the late general election. These returns (says the New Zealand Times) have now come in from all the electoral districts but 18, and they are highly interesting. They afford conclusive proof in the first place that the women of the colony were fully alive to the importance of the franchise, and prompt to exercise it. Of the four large cities, Dunedin poßßesses the largest number of women voters ; but the women of Christ-church polled in larger proportion than those of Auckland, Wellington, and Dunedin. Of electorates returning only one member each, Invercargill, Wellington Suburbs, Chalmers, and Timaru boast the largest number of women voters, and WaimeaSounds, Egmont, Waikato, Otaki, Awarua, and Inangahua the fewest. The women of Waihemo, Tuapeka, P<vreora, Bgmont, and Inangahua polled the most heavily, while those of Mataura and Invercargill were the most backward in coming forward. Of course this comparison is necessarily incomplete in view of the fact that returns from 18 electoral districts have yet to come in. A table showing the number of women voters, the number of women who voted, and the number liable to be struck off the rolls in the various districts from which returns havo como to band, is appended :—: —

Provincial District ov Auckland (15 members). To be On struck roll. Voted. off. City of Auckland ... W«)0 5283 1377 Waipa 1306 1073 233 Waikato 987 840 147 Provincial District op Hawke's Bay (3 members). Waipawa 1482 1299 183 Provincial District of Tahanaki (3 members)flfew Plymouth 1465 1289 17(5 Jifemont ... ?T ...' 877 -~ 803 ?i-. Patea 112& \ 90l 165 j Provincial District of Wellington (10 members):. Wanganui 1660 1454 206 . Rangitikei 1548' 1355 193 Palmerston 1702 14435 259 Otaki 964 -767 197 Masterton 1458 1212 246 Wairarapa 1503 1313 190 City of Wellington ... 7280 6146 1134 Wellington Suburbs ... 1860 1622 238 Provincial District of Mahlborough (2 members). Waimea-Sounds ... 746 622 124 Wairau 1428 1314 114 Provincial District of Nelsom (3 members). City of Nelson 1629 1473 156 Buller 1431 1284 147 Inangahua 998 916 82 Provincial District of Westland (2 members). «rey 1376 1193 183 Provincial District ov Canterbury (14 members). AWey 1263 1072 191 SSf ::: ::: ::: 8S 95 ™ City of Christcfcurch ... 6710 sf€9> 721 Lyttelton ... 1581 1324^ '257 Riccarton 1634 1417 217 Selwyn 1207 1003 201 Ashburton - 1573' 1380 1!W Rangitata IHO. 958 1W Pareora 127* 1171 106 Timaru 1804 1612 192 Provincial District ov Otago (18 members). Waitaki 1227 994 233 Oamaru 1638 1423 215 Waihemo 1357 1267 M Chalmers ISIB 1581 234 City of Dunedin ... 7644 6306 133S Caversham 1552 1277 275 Bruce 1200 no poll ml Tuapeka 1115 1007 108 Clutha . 1353 ÜBS 185 Mataura 1348 993 355 Invercargill MGB IC4S 320 Awarua , 979 no poll nil