WOMAN'S FRANCHISE.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 305, 18 September 1908, Page 4

WOMAN'S FRANCHISE.

FIFTEENTH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATED. MEETING AT THE TOWN HALL. Last night in tho Concert Room of tho Town Hall, under tho auspices of the Women's Christian Temperance Union, a meeting was held to celebrate tho anniversary of tho granting of the parliamentary francliiso to women. Mrs. Chappie presided, and apologies for absence wero received from Mrs. Hislop, Lady Stout, Dr. Agnes Bennett, Miss M'Lean, and Miss Richmond. Dr. Edith Huntley and Sirs. Charles Izard wero on tho platform. Mrs. Chapplo referred to tho fact that Saturday was the fifteenth anniversary of tho granting of the franchise. It had been won hy New Zealand women without tho bitterness of contest, the contumely, slander, and misrepresentation that was marking the conflict in England. She mentioned tho names of Sir John Hall and others, to whoso efforts tho women of tho Dominion owed their possession of tho privilege. Mrs. Low spoke of the>oft'orts that women are making to advanco their causo in nearly all parts of the civilised world, and of tho great difficulties they had to surmount. In Canada, after forty years' agitation, the women wero still not in sight of tho franchise, and when recently a Bill to give them the vote had been introduced into tho Legislature it had been dismissed with tho brief comment that there was no need to discuss it until public opinion on the subject had been created. In most other civilised countries women wero gradually raising their position. Even in Armenia they had made a start. Finland and Australia had gono further, than New Zealand, for in those countries tho women woro eligible for scats in Parliament, though as yet in Australia no woman candidate had beon elected. Mrs. Low briefly sketched the history of tho franchise movement in Now Zealand, and the immediate causes that led to tho passing of tho Franchise Act. Since winning tho franchise tho women of New Zealand had, she said, gained other advantages in tho passing of humanitarian legislation, such Acts as the Infants' Lifo Protection Act,'the Act enabling women to receive compensation for slander without proving special damage, the Act setting equal standards of morality in divorce cases, the recognition of the principle of equal pay for equal work in tho Factory Act, the principlo of economic partnership of husband and wifo as recognnised in tho Municipal Franchise and Old Ago Pensions Act, and the admission of women to tho Bar, etc. Mrs. Col. Knight, S.A., dealt with tho question of women's franchise from the point of viowof a social worker who had had twenty years' exoperienco of tho ravages wrought .by the drink traffic in every community, and siio urged the women present to exert their votes at tho coming polls for the suppression of tho traffic and tho salvation of. tho weak. Tho Rev. J. J. North said ho yet thought thero wero several achievements of which Now Zoalnnders might justly feel proud, such as tho passing of the Old Ago Pensions Act and its successful working, the advanced liquor legislation, and tho granting; of women's franchise. These things, winch at present could not bo won in England without much turmoil, had como "with comparatively littlo contest here. AVlien tho fraiichiso was extended to women another kind of brain was put behind tho ballot-box, another factor introduced into politics. Woman looked at things along the' lines of self sacrifice. Sho was guided by intuition, and psychologists would tell us tha.t this very often gave tho truest view. Tho woman with a vote had a great responsibility, and sho must consider political issues from a moral standpoint. Tho land question was a moral one, and in a town like Wellington, whore peoplo wore rackrented, tho women should realise tho nccossity of dealing with tho land question , as a' moral one. The question of literature, was another that ought to be touched 'by . women, and various other questions of social importance domanded tlioir careful consideration. Ho hoped the women of tho :W;C.T.TJ. and all others would roaliso their-respon-sibility. ' •

The Rev. F. W. Isitt recalled the eagerness with which tho Temperance party had'hailed the granting of the franchise to women, their high expectation of what tho woman vote would effect, and tho subsequent disappointment when it had not proved to be cast altogether, on the side of moral reform. .He thought, however, that year by year the fromen of Now Zealand wero becoming moro independent and understanding better their individual responsibility, and. he fully believed that at tho coming poll , their vote would bo more than ever on ,tho : side of. all that made for tho protection of home and the development of character. During the evening two songs wero sung by 3\lrs. Mueller, Miss Lloyd Hassell also sang, and Miss Mary Flux gavo a recitation. At the conclusion of tho mooting a vote of thanks to the speakers and other friends who had helped was carried on tho motion of Mrs. Boxhall, president of the W.C.T.U. The meeting closed with the singing of tho National Anthem, and sinco it was a women's meeting, it seemed quito fitting that many should, as usua.l, sing "God Savo tho Queen." :