women enacted by the Parliament beginning in 1902,
prepared by Miss Chrystal Macmillan, M.A., B.Sc. The lack of space
which has compelled the omission of similar laws from all of the State
chapters makes it necessary in this one. Three of importance
politically are given.--Ed.

CHAPTER LII.

WOMAN SUFFRAGE IN BRITISH COLONIES.

In granting the complete franchise to a part of her women in 1918
Great Britain followed all of her self-governing colonies, which, with
the exception of South Africa, had given the full suffrage on the same
terms as exercised by men. New Zealand, Australia and Canada gave
Municipal suffrage at early dates, extending from 1867 in New South
Wales to 1894 in the Northwest Territories of Canada.

NEW ZEALAND.

New Zealand was the first country in the world to give full suffrage
to women, its Parliament in 1893 conferring the franchise on all
persons over 21. In case of women, however, this did not include the
right to sit in Parliament, and, although efforts to secure this right
were made at intervals during all the following years, the bill for it
several times passing the Lower House, they were not successful until
1919. The unvarying record has been that the registration and vote of
women have nearly averaged those of men and in some instances have
exceeded them. In the election of 1919 the registration of men was
355,000; of women, 328,320. New Zealand is noted for its advanced
legislation.

AUSTRALIA.

In 1901 the six States of Australia federated in a commonwealth with a
National Parliament and one of its earliest acts in June, 1902, was to
confer the complete universal suffrage on women and eligibility to
this body. About 800,000 women were thus enfranchised. This action had
been preceded by the granting of the State suffrage by the
Legislatures in South Australia in 1894 and in West Australia in 1899
and this was done in New South Wales in August, 1902. Women received
the State suffrage in Tasmania and Queensland in 1905, Victoria in
1908. South Australia was the only one that gave the right to sit in
the Legislature with the State suffrage. This eligibility was not
conferred until 1919 in New South Wales and Victoria; 1920 in West
Australia and does not yet exist in Tasmania and Queensland. One must
be a property owner to be a municipal voter or office holder.

Australia has largely substituted advanced legislation for women for
the English Common Law. The statistics