FORTY YEARS OF FRANCHISE

Press, Volume LXIX, Issue 20956, 9 September 1933, Page 12

FORTY YEARS OF FRANCHISE

WOMEN'S VOTING RIGHTS ' EARLY STRUGGLES RECALLED By a coincidence, the fortieth anniversary of the passing by the Legislative Council of the third reading of the Electoral Bill, granting the franchise to women in New Zealand, fell yesterday during the Lyttelton by-election campaign in which one of the candidates is a woman. I Forty years ago a heated con- { troversy was raging throughout the ; colony over the Seddon Ministry's*'! action in granting votes to women j at Parliamentary elections, and it : is not always remembered that this i legislation was not passed without ; strong opposition. It was even j stated openly at the time that the Ministry of the day had no love for the measure, but that it was driven into passing it by a small section of its followers. Although New Zealand is believed to have been the first country in the world to give women the right to sit in Parliament, it is one of the few which has consistently refused to elect a woman to its General Assembly. Legislation permitting women to stand for Parliament was passed in 1919 when Mr Massey was Prime Minister, the measure being known as the Women's Parliamentary Rights Act, j 1919. It has only two clauses, one j being the short title, and tha other, containing the authority, reads as follows: —"A woman shall not be j disqualified by sex or marriage from being elected as a member of the House of Representatives, or from sitting or voting as a member thereof, anything to the contrary in the Legislature Act, 1903, or in any other act, notwithstanding.*' Revolutionary Step. The granting of votes to women was regarded and described as a most revolutionary step when it was first placed before Parliament 40 years ago. Even after the passing of the Electoral Bill by both Houses, strenuous attempts were made by factions throughout the country to induce the Governor to refuse to give the measure the Royal assent. It had a most chequered passage through the Lower House, and some particularly vivid accounts of the stir it created were telegraphed from Wellington during 1893 by the special correspondent of "The Press." The point most consistently made was that the Government, headed by Mr Seddon, was not favourably disposed toward granting votes to women, but some intensive "lobbying" by political observers revealed that the Ministry was finally induced to support the measure in spite of its members' hostile personal opinions. There was a stir when the bill finally went through the Lower House and was sent on to the Legislative Council, many of the members of which were definitely opposed to it. Its fate hung in the balance on the third reading debate which drew to a close on September 8. Sir Charles (then Mr) Bowen j moved as an amendment that the bill be read in six "months' time, a move to have it "killed." The amendment was defeated by only two votes, and the third reading then went on the voices. "There was great excitement when the third reading was bejng taken," reported "The Press" correspondent next morning. "AH the galleries were crowded with interested spectators, including Sir John Hall, Sir Robert Stout, and other champions of 'Lovely Woman' (a phrase which was very prominent throughout the whole of the controversy). The member for Ellesmere (Sir John Hall) was warmly congratulated on the prospect of being in a position to renounce his political armour with the desire of his life achieved." The Final Decision. Incidentally, Sir John did not return to Parliament after the dissolu-' tion in November of that year. Finally, it is recorded, when the result of the division became known, and the passage of the bill assured, "reporters rushed frantically to telegraph the decision far and wide." The New Zealand Parliament on that day set a notable example to the rest of the world in approving women's franchise. This was not the end of the struggle by the opponents of franchise. The newspapers of the day reported that banners and placards were displayed m Wellington streets by those who organised petitions for presentation to the ■ Governor. Petitions came from all over the country opposing the measure, and they incurred the dis- ■ pleasure of Sir Robert Stout, who declared that at least some were signed by "drunken loafers" and : others of unworthy character. However, Mr Seddon was able to announce in the House on September 19 that the Royal assent had > been granted and that the measure was law. Seven days before, the 1 Liberal Association had been the first political organisation to recognise the new order of things, having passed a resolution admitting [ women to membership. It was not ! until 26 years later, however that • women were able to stand for . Parliament. Newspaper Comments. "Sir Patrick Buckley (Attorney- ; General and Colonial Secretary) ad- ' mittedly dislikes woman suffrage, : and he now states openly that ■ nothing but loyalty to his party was . the occasion of his standing by the ■ Electoral Bill." remarked the Parliamentary correspondent of "The ■ Press" in a message published on ■ September 20, 1893. "Had he been [ a free-lance, no more uncompromis- - ing opponent of female franchise ; would have been found in the ' council." In a leading article published on September 20, 1893, "The Press" observed that the bill had become law against the wishes of the Government, and it was passed bv a House, the majority of whose niembers were "in then hearts opposed to the change." It had in fact been forced upon the colonv, the ; majority of the electors in which , were opposed to the resolution It . has finally been forced on ' the 1 women of New Zealand, although i the majority of them- do not Sint . the franchise and have made no . claims to obtain the privilege " Thr I positionwas, the article commented