WOMEN'S FRANCHISE.

Press, Volume L, Issue 8586, 13 September 1893, Page 5

WOMEN'S FRANCHISE.

■»■ We have been handed for publication the following copy of a letter forwarded yesterday to his Excellency from the Franchise Department of the Women's Christian Temperance Union of Canterbury:— " To his Excellency the Earl of Glasgow, Governor of New Zealand. "May it please your Excellency, " On behalf of the 31,000 women whose petition I had the honour of forwarding to Parliament, I am empowered by my Executive to addres3 your Excellency on the question of the protest urged by a minority of the Legislative Council against your Bkcellency'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 large majority in the House of Representatives affirmed the principle of womanhood suffrage, and that Sir John. Hall was induced to withdraw the Women's Franchise Bill, which would have given effect to the principle, solely on the ground that Che question had not come before ithe constituencies, and should be relegated to the coantry. " Womanhood suffrage was one of the most prominent questions raised at the last election, and every candidate, I believe without exception, declared himself as either favourable or antagonistic to the enfranchisement of women. The constituencies having elected a large majority 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 allowthe 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. Sheppard, " New Zealand Franchise Superintendent, W.C.T.U."