PUBLIC MEETING.

Press, Volume XLVIII, Issue 7804, 6 March 1891, Page 6

PUBLIC MEETING.

A public meeting under the uuspices of the Women's Christian Temperance Union, was held in the Provincial Council Chamber at 6 p.m. yesterday, wlien addresses were delivered ou tlie subject of women's franchise. There was a very good attendance, chiefly ladies, and the chair was occupied by Mrs Fulton, N?w Zealand President of the Women's Christian Temperance Union. The proceedings were Opened with prayer offered by the Bey. W. C. Oliver, and the reading of a portion of Scripture by the Rev. L. M. laitt. A telegram was read from Mr 'T. L. Buick, M.H.H., stating Chat owiug to che shortness of notice he was uuablu to attend, aud expressing sympathy with the movement.

A letter was also read from Sir John Hall, regretting his inability to atceud through iiavii.g made arrangements to go to the West Coist, and suggesting that a resolution should be passed to toe effect that seeing » large number olt women of New Zealand desired the franchise, the meeting express its sympathy with the movement.

■ The President addressed the meeting, and referred to the amount of ignorance existing as to the view.-* of women oa the subject of the franchise, and quoted a number of arguments used iv support of the extension of the franchise to we men in America. She hoped that women would consider the subject earnestly, and that they would not let the itime for acting pass by and be lost to Uiem for ever. (Applause.) Mr Alfred Saunders, M.H.R., next addressed the meeting, and expressed his gratification at seeing Mrs Fulton occupying the position she did, as he had always looked to her husband for sympathy and support in that and similar movements, and he was glad to find ihatsh<? was working iv harmony with her husband in a matter that was for the beneils of man* kind. He would deal with the i wDortance of the subject of women's franchise, and deplored the practice on the part of many to ridicule it. He said it was of the greatest importance. It was an effort to make the tree grow that the fruit might .be good, and was for the benefit of mauki ud. He referred to other great liberal movemeuts iv England, and said there could' be no question that the extension of tho fran* cuise to women would be a great revolution in the existing mode of repreaentation. He referred to a circular thac he had received, and said he was glad of Che opportunity to answer the questions con* taiued therein. Movements were now on foot to reduce the hours of labor, and yet it was refused to woman to go once in three years to record her vote for fear her husband's dinner would be neglected. It was said that the women were represented by their husbancus. Some were, and others held views which differed from their husbands, and there was reason to believe that in this case she would generally be right. He quoted statistics to show that in 1839 410 men were committed for trial in New Ztjaland for serious crimes, and only twenty women for the same period, which showed a superiority on the part of women; and ! supposing that they were equal, was it right that the men should be the only governing party ? They had had fifty years of governing in New Zealand and had made an awful mess of it. Perhaps it would be better to give the women a trial. It was said with some truth that women were not fit to go into the poAliog booth and-to political meetings; but what was the case when women were compelled to go to places that were not fit for them. Did the places *improve or did the women become worse? He referred to the brutal state of the miners on the West Coast, when there were 10,000 men there, and no women among them. Now, when theywent to Hokitika they found it asgood as any other place, because there were plenty of women there. He gave other illustrations, and said that if the polling booths were now not fit for women, they would soon become better by their presence, and it would be the same with political meetings. The children most be minded, and a woman would miud them if she had twenty votes instead of one. One of the greatest reasons why their political life in the ?pasc had not been a success was because of the little interest taken in policies by the general community. It was said that women did not want the franchise. That was the meanest excuse of the lot for refusing to give her the franchise. How did they know whether she did or not f She must not be asked, not perhaps publicly, but she must be given an opportunity of expressing her views in other trays. Mr Pish proposed bo issue a census paper to obtain the views of women on the subject. He did not think Mr Fish would take the trouble to go to the next room to ask Mrs Fish whether sue wanted the franchise, and would answer the question in the paper "No." That would be the way the opinion of the women would be obtained. He referred to the extension of the manhood suffrage, and said that a great cry would be raised if they attempted tc take it away. They cared little about ignorance, weakness, or right on the part of those holding the manhood suffrage, but they feared the petticoats. It-was not from their mothers and sisters, but from the harems of the east, the slums of London, and the pothouses of New Zealand that they took their ideas that woman was not fit to have a voice in the Government of the country. No man wae to be ex*

eluded from the making of the laws, which he was called upon w> obey, and no one but the women was to be excluded. He said that if they admitted women to the same privilege, they would elevate the legislation of the country. Ie would become more moral and just, and more creditable to.t.be country, if they gave up the idea that the lords of creation should be the anlv. people to have a voice in the formation of fixe laws of the country. (Applause.) Dr. Stewart said hi 9 sympathy had been with the ca use for many years. The meeting was one of the most important held in that hall, because it was the inception of a power that was to extend from one end 01' New Zealand to the other. If they put women on a political equality with ineu, they could remedy the one man vote system, which he did not agree with as at present regulated. T.he recent strike was an illustration of the one naau one vote principle, and if thu women had had a voe they would not have bad a strike. Women 8 brains were smaller than men's, it was contended, but he knew this, that they were generally more rapid in arriving at conclusions, and were more just and clear in their judgment. Women were very much the suffenirs by some of the laws ot New Zealand,, and if they had a voice those laws wotu«i be remedied, and the country would be made much more prosperous and happy. What surprised him was that there s houid be so much poverty in the country. As medical officer to the Charitable Aid F-oard he s»w much of it, and said a great deal was caused by the laws relating to the sale of drink. (Applause.) If women had the franchise cause laws would be remedied. He had never heard any sound reasons why tibe women should noc have. the franchise, and said thao many evils that existed would not be removed till the women had the power to go *:o the poll. He urged the women to be determined, and not to give way till they got the franchise. (Appi ause.) The Rev. W. C. Omvkr said it was desired to see woman take her original character of companion and friend of man, and. to work aide by side with him. He referred to the relating to women's property and cd divorce. He contended that a woman sihould have the power to protect by law heir beso interests. He referred to the success of women in the learned professions and literature, and asked whether such women were to be lowered. He contended that those women who had tlie power to vote at municipal elections and rfchool Committee elections had never abused their pow«r, and asked that if a woman wa* Hi Ito alt on the throne a* of the \ realm, why was she not tic to have a voice iv the repre-jentatio" of the community in Parliament. He said that ! women would prevent the returu of immoral men to Parliament, and tliac he had no fear bat that if she had the franchise she would be an honor to her country. (Applause). The Key. L. M. Isitt expressed his pleasure at being able to stand on the placform of the Women's Christian Temperance Union. Ie was said that English women, had greater privileges than other women, but he pointed out where great improvements could be effected. He strongly combated the argutnuuc that women did not want the franchise, and said that she was being brought up in an artificial manner by depriving her of the right to exercise her \»ote. He said that tins chief reason why' the woman was refused the franchise wus because she was looked upQn as m tin's inferior. Ho strongly denounced UiU view, and said that women were vastly more moral thau men, and uad an amount of persistency and application that M r ai much greater than men's. It was said on tile emancipation of the negroes in America that they were the nieu'.al inferiors of the whites, but they were hhowing on every occasion I that they, were able to accomplish the same things and take 6h s same position as the whites, and he held that a similar mistaken notion was held with resr*ri ta women. If women were allowed to have the franchise, the election of immoral representatives would be prevented, and thac there vraa no danger but that she would vote light on all social questions. When they gave the wonioia tiiat right she asked fur and should, have, tney would go a long way towards the solution of mauy of the existing social problems of the day. (Applause). He then moved the following resolution as suggested by Sir John Hall—" That there being a large number of women in New Zealand who desire the extension of tne franchise, this meeting expresses its sympathy with their desire, and hopes thac their efforts will be crowned with success."

The Rev. W. C. Oliver seconded the motion, which was carried by acclamation, aud the me»Liug termiuated with the singing of the National Authem.