FRANCHISE DAY

Southland Times, Issue 16843, 20 September 1911, Page 6

FRANCHISE DAY

iOCAI, CELBBBATIOKS. branchLe Day was celonratod yesterday in the Amethyst Hall, Bowmont Street, iimler the auspices of the Women's Christian Temperance Movement. In the afternoon there was a sale of work, and addresses In connection with the Women's Crusade movement and the "cradle roll" were delivered by .M esdames James Baird and Haycock, and Sister Moody Bell. Afternoon tea was also dispensed. It is understood that' Hie proceeds from the sale of work, which was presided over by Mrs McKay, were very satisfactory. In the evening 11) ere was a fairly large gathering present, and as befitting the occasion ladies wei'e considerably in the majority. Mrs James Baird presided, and performed the duties required of her in her usual genial and pleasant manner. The principal feature of the proceedings were addresses by Mesdames James Baird and C. W. Brown, and Miss Jobsen, M.A. Miss Jobsen chose for her subject: “ Should Women have the Franchise?” She said that some people might consider It a waste of time to discuss this question, and that women should be content with the fact that they now possessed the right to vote, without endeavouring to have it discussed. Still, there were some who continued to view the question antagonistically, and there were women who were too lazy to avail themselves of the franchise; who thought it a bore to have to vote, and a greater bore to have t'o study politics. Objections were frequently made to substantiate this attitude: “Polling day was so horrid,” and "one had to elbow one’s way through a crowd to the booth.” Some men. however, were the most vehement objectors. They said that women’s sphere was In the home; but these men were not those who favoured a bachelor’s tax, not that that speaker was In favour of that proposal herself. The home, of course, was the natural sphere for women; but at present there were not sufficient homes available, and women had to go Into other spheres. But It did not follow that because women had the vote, that they should necessarily neglect their home duties. Did a man neglect his work because he had a vote? And in regard to the other spheres into which women from time to timq had gone, they had done work in them which men could not have done. And in these capacities they had learnt of the disabilities under which women have suffered, and had been able ■to use their Influence —previously limited —to remove these disabilities. It had been a tlierne of writers “That the hand that rocks the cradle rules the world,” and that influence had not been lessened by giving women the franchise. By having the vote women were able to extend that recognlsedly beneficial influence in a wider direction. It had also been said that women were not sufficiently educated to to have a vote. But men had not had such a long start; the universal franchise had not been in vogue for any great length of time. And in mediaeval times it was admitted that in the higher classes women were more cultured than men, and this, alone, must have a considerable hereditary influence on women of the present day. Then it had been said that ilomen would vote as their husbands directed. That might be so; but did men always think for themselves? A good speaker could influence men and carry them away by his eloquence, and women were no worse than men in this reapett. If women’s use of the franchise had been as it should have l»een, it would by now have silenced •critics. But perfection could not be reached just at once. Women should try and use their influences on the side which was best. They should adopt a broad tolerant spirit, and not rouse the antipathy of opponents by tactless opposition, Suasion should be used instead of wearisome reiteration of facts that were difficult to digest. They could not accomplish everything at once, and illjudged aggressiveness often caused lots of opposition. By their own actions they should try to convince people, and the franchise should be used without causing party feeling. Miss Jobsen said that she understood that in New Zealand great bitterness was sometimes introduced at pplllng lime. In Australia that was not the case, and women went to the polling booth in the same spirit as they went to church. Women should use their influence in furthering all that was right, and they should effect that • purpose in the best way possible. Mrs C. W. Brown’s subject was “How we gained the Franchise.” She said that in six minutes she could not lie expected to give an account of twentyfive years’ work. Women had been determined to ha%e ttie vote, because they knew that it would lie!]) them In their work. They had worked for the vote and they had won it. It was after listening to Mrs Shepherd twenty-live years ago, that she had first seen plainly the necessity of securing the franchise. They had worked hard to attain that end; and they had met with groat opposition from Ministers, from Members of Parliament, and from the newspapers. They had adopted various methods to further their cause, and had forwarded petition after petition to Parliament. After ten years of toil they won, and they had since proved that they had been justified In asking for the franchise. Eighteen years had passed since they had achieved success, and there had been no trouble in the home, nor had there been in her experience any bitterness at election times such as had been mentioned by Miss Jobsen. The possession of the vote had found for women an influence which formerly they did not have. Mrs James Baird spoke on “What we have done with the Franchise.” From the commencement they had determined to regard moral character above all tilings, and no matter how intellectual or capable a candidate might be without moral character he would not receive their support. The best legislators were men who feared God. Women had been most interested in social legislation. They had constantly endeavoured to have, the curse of strong drink removed, and they had voted solidly for anything that would tend to de’erease or abolish the traffic. Gambling was the next evil they had endeavoured to cope with, and they had recently been successful in reducing the number of race days, and in having legislative recognition withdrawn from bookmakers. In the interests of purity they had had the C.D, Acts repealed, and had caused legislation to be passed dealing with pernicious literature. In regard to smoking children under 16 years of age were prohibited from indulging, and a law in regard to the adoption of children had been brought into effect. They had endeavoured to place women on an equality with men, and this had been embodied in an amendment to the Divorce Act. The maintenance of wives and children had also received attention, and a man could not now will his property from his wife and family If they were In need of it. In various other directions in connection with family life they had been succcsful in improving the conditions of women. Shop girls were now the recipients of more humane treatment, and the lot of prisoners had been improved. They hud always endeavoured to make the world happier and brighter, easier to live in, and to make It easier to do right and harder to do wrong. They had many problems yet to deal with, and they must keep on fighting for The cause that lacks assistance; For the wrong that needs resistance; For tile future in the distance; And the gooil that 1 can do. During the evening a capital programme was gone through, not the least pleasing being the contribution of ,glees by the choir. The following also added materially to the evening's e.njoyment:—Misses Hunter (2), Lindsify; Llllco. Purnell, Drydcn, Jamieson, Messrs Macallster, A. C. Phillips, and A. S. Wallace. To the joint secretaries, Mesdames Kilburn and McKenzie, great praise is d’uo for the smooth working of the whole of the arrangements. The singing of “God Save the King” brought the proceedings to a close.