THE ENFRANCHISEMENT OF WOMEN.

Auckland Star, Volume XXIII, Issue 181, 1 August 1892, Page 3

THE ENFRANCHISEMENT OF WOMEN.

AN ANCIENT RIGHT; A MODERN

NEED,

Few people are aware whab an interesting subject the enfranchisement of women really is. Some are inclined to look upon it as a question to be decided by Parliament, and bhen shelved until an election in which women are enabled to vote takes place. Some look upon it as a transient fad. There is a greab deal to be learnt in connection with the loss of the right to vote, bow long this right existed, how ib was exercised, and why women are not allowed to vote for the election of members of Parliament now.

The Auckland branch of the Women's Franchise League proposes to hold meetings on the first Tuesday afternoon in each month ab bhe V.M.C.A. Rooms ab 3 o'clock, for bhe purpose of reading and discussing inberesbing and instructive papers on this subject. The paper to be read to-morrow afternoon specially deals with the answers to the questions propounded above, and the matter is well worth hearing and talking over. Any member of the League may speak in the discussion, provided the speech is brief and to the point. Outsiders who are interested in women's franchise are cordially invited to be present.

There are many intelligent women in Auckland who are deplorably apathetic about this important question. They are either too lazy to 'Btir themselves into making any exertion to find out what women really wanb, whether ib is for their good, and to decide for themselves on sensible, practical grounds whab course bhey will pursue in the mattor ; or they are too utterly selfish, because the question does nob immediately affect them personally, to care how it affeebs for good or for evil bhe large majority of other women—their sisters. Thab there is a large number of really earnest sympathisers in the movement for bhe enfranchisement of women was clearly proved by the immense audience which assembled in tho Opera House on the occasion of the public meeting. Then the bare reasons for granting the suffrage were given. It was a new idea in Auckland and the speakers on that occasion had to confine themselves to an explanation of tho need of such a movement as they advocated. Now the Committee of the Franchise League feel that they themselves have much to learn of women's political rights and position, and are anxious, as they gain knowledge themselves, to extend it to others who have nob bhe same opportunity as they have of acquiring it. Hence they are anxious that these monthly meetings should be well attended. The rules which are to govern the League will be reed to-morrow and fully discussed next month, so that all the members will have an opportunity of thinking them over.

Id is earnestly to be hoped that the women of Auckland will not allow the Dunedin franchise petitioners to display more energy, zeal, and knowledge of what all intelligent women should know, than they do, and will therefore come to the meetings themselves and bring their friends.