AN INTERVIEW WITH MISS HELEN TAYLOR.

Timaru Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 3534, 26 January 1886, Page 3

AN INTERVIEW WITH MISS HELEN TAYLOR.

A reporter of the Pull Mall GazMc interviewed Mia3 llelen Taylor when that lady was canvassing tho borough of North Cumberwoll. Miss Taylor at that time, it will bo Been, was protty confidout of success. Aa wo know now, however, her nomination wa3 rejected by tho returning ofh'cer. Following is the account of the interview: — Her little oftico has tho appearance of a boarding-house apartment, relieved only by a largo basket of fresh flowers on a small side-table, and an illuminated address to Mr John Stuart Mill, of whom Miss Taylor was the adopted daughter, over the mantel-piece. " I apologise for keeping you waiting," said Misa Taylor to tnu ; "wo are rather busy just now. I aliall bo happy to givo you somo information about my prospers at the coming election. It is plain that my two rival opponents aro far from confident that I may not get m. My meetings, whon I began to address my electors were somewhat noisy : indeed, at tho beginning of tho campaign I was told m most confident terms that it had been decided that I should not be permitted to hold any public meeting whatever, and it was understood that a sufficient number of men had boon told ofl' to take the platform and pass resolutions m favor of Mr Strmis (Liberal candidate) at every meeting held by me. Tho result has been that they have never otico been on tho platform, except by the invitation of myself and my chairman, to move their resolutions against us. They have never had tho majority at any meeting : the meetings have become more quiet ono af ter'ithc other, until at the last, not only I, but all other speakers, wero quietly listened to, and resolutions m my favor woro carried with only three diasentients." <: How far do women support you, Miss Taylor ?" " I myself, a3 well as my lady canvassers, havo beon struck with tho strong and general interest aroused among women, and by their pleasuro at tho appoarance of a lady candidate This is equally visible among tho poor women who collect at opon-air meetings and among thosa of the botter-oIF classes who aro visited m their homes. Among men also thcro i 3 a ready response that a woman ought to bo m Parliament to represent women and children." " Aud which questions, Miss Taylor, are, m your opinion, the most interesting to the electors 1" " The subjects which arouse tlio wannest interest aro shorter hours of labor, better homes, and food and clothing for children, with, restoration of tho endowments for this latter purpose. As to my general views on tho question of admitting women into Parliament, I consider that tho fact of a woman standing for a seat will givo a great impetus to the general advancement of women. It at onco makes thejrantingof a voteto women seem comparatively moderato measure. It is unfortunately too much tho custom m England to procoed m politics by a kind of Dutch auction, and until something more is asked tho franchise question 13 at a standstill. The drawing of the attention of the poor electors and of all women to tho fact that there i 3 no law against women sitting m Parliament is stirring up tho general question of their position m society. It is tho only possible way of forcing the gonoral question of tho equal rights of women into the domain of practical politics. When men havo to contend with a woman m parliamentary elections and to dread that she is drawing off their votes, tho political position of women will have for tho first time ceased to bo a matter of theory, and become a practical matter to political men. I feel that I am acting as a pioneer, and I expect that at tho next election there will be many women candidates for Parliament." " Among what class do j'ou find mo3t Bympathy with tho political aspirations of women !" "The sympathy with tho claims of women is undoubtedly strongest among respectable workinu men. They recognise tho economical value of woman's domestic work a3 no other class m society does ; they also, living and supporting their families by that m which man hss an undoubted superiority over woman — namely, muscular strength, aro neither jealous nor afraid of women, but recognise the oqual value of men's and women's work. Moreover, many among them aro not yet enfranchised, others have only just become so, and they still feel a keen sympathy with the disabilities and disadvantages of an unprivileged class. I havo found this universal wherever I have Bpoken to tho workers m towns, to tho miners, or to agricultural laborers." "After the elections I shall bo very happy," said Miss Taylor, as I turned to leave, " to see you again, but at present I am very busy. lam deeply interested m Mr Stead's work, and am glad to hear that the Exeter Hall meeting was a great success."