Thanks to woman's suffrage the respectable elements that formerly often
remained away from the political arena have now again stepped to the
front; they have presented successful candidates, and have begun to play
an important part in the political life of the country."

Since women have exercised the right to vote in New Zealand the following
legal reforms have been enacted:

1. Divorces are granted to the wife and to the husband upon the same
grounds.

2. The husband can no longer deprive the wife and children of their
inheritances by means of a will.

3. The conditions of suffrage in municipal elections were made the
same for both women and men.

4. The saloons are closed on election days.

5. Women are admitted to the practice of law.

6. The age of consent for girls was raised to 17.

Similar reforms were enacted in South Australia. There Mrs. Mary Lee is
the leader in the woman's suffrage movement, and founder of the "Women's
Suffrage Society." When the woman's suffrage bill was passed in 1895 the
Prime Minister, the Minister of Public Instruction, and the Lord Mayor
gave Mrs. Lee an impressive reception in the town hall; they thanked her
for the untiring efforts which she had devoted to the cause, and the Prime
Minister said, "Mrs. Lee is the originator of the greatest reforms in the
constitutional history of Australia." What enlightened views the ministers
in the antipodal countries do have! Are they really our antiscians to such
a degree?

Since 1896, the following reforms have been effected by the South
Australian Parliament:

1. A modification of the marriage law (the husband must provide for
the wife and children if his brutality leads to a divorce). An
enlargement of woman's sphere in the business world. Separate
property rights.

2. Greater strength was given to the law compelling the father of
illicit children to fulfill his pecuniary duties.

3. A severer penalty for trafficking in girls.

4. The increasing of the age of consent to 17.

5. Improved laws providing for the care of dependent children.

6. A maximum working week of 52 hours for children engaged in
industry.

7. Laws suppressing pornography.

8. Laws prohibiting the sale of liquor and tobacco to children.

9. Women were appointed to the positions of inspectors of schools,
pris