THE WOMEN'S FRANCHISE.

Auckland Star, Volume XXIV, Issue 223, 20 September 1893, Page 7

THE WOMEN'S FRANCHISE.

LETTER TO THE GOVERNOR,

The following letter has been forwarded to his Excellency the Governor by the Franchise Superintendent of the Women'B Christian Temperance Union :—

To his Excellency the Earl of Glasgow, Governor of New Zealand, May it please your Excellency, On behalf of the 31,000 womon whoso petition I had tho honour of forwarding to Parliament, I am empowered by my Executive to address your Excellency on the question of the urote.?t urged by a minority of the Legislative Council against your Excellency's immediate assent to the enfranchisement of the women of the colony. I therefore beg to point out that on the eve of the last general election, a largo majority in tho House of Representatives affirmed tho principle of womanhood Hulfrage, and that Sir John Hall was induced to withdraw the Womon's Franchise Bill, which would have given effect to the principle, solely on the ground that the question had not come beforo the constituencies, and should be relegated to the country. Womanhood suffrage was one of tho most prominent questions raised at the last elections, and every candidate, I believe without exception, declared himBelf as either favourable or antagonistic to the enfranchisement of women. The constituencies having elected a largo majority of representatives who were avowedly supporters of womanhood suffrage, the assertion made in clause 3 of the protest forwarded to your Excellency is absolutely without foundation, and contrary to fact. I sincerely trust that your Excellency will not allow tho action taken by both Houses of Parliament in acceding to the petition of 31,000 women of the colony to be frustrated. —I have the honour to be, your Excellency's obedient servant,

Kate W. Siievpard, New Zealand Franchiaa Superintendent, W.C.T.U.