The Women’s Franchise in New Zealand

White Ribbon, Volume 30, Issue 5, 1 September 1958, Page 2

The Women’s Franchise in New Zealand

By Victoria Grigg, M.A., J.P.

To have been a voter in the election of 1893, when women first received the right to vote as New Zealand citizens, one would now need to have attained a minimum age of eighty-six. Thus it is that the ranks of “first women voters” are being steadily depleted, and for this reason it is most important to keep green the memory of those who toiled so arduously for our political and civic rights. After many years of struggle the Greek women secured their vote in 1952. In the record of their efforts it is said that they were always received with smiles and promises, but with the usual ol>jection, “Women are not yet ripe for the vote." They were assured by a Cabinet Minister that he was ready to give them the vote, but on hearing his cook telling him that she did not care for it, he changed his mind They were told that there were more urgent questions to be settled fimt. When New Zealanders consider how long the women have had the vote, in comparison with many other countries, we should realise how much we owe to far-sighted women and the men who supported them. Years of Struggle Before Success During the past 65 years, three Jubilee celebrations have been held to mark the gaining of the women’s franchise. The last was the Diamond Jubilee in 1953, which was a half-hearted celebration compared with the Golden Jubilee held ten years previously. Of all organisations, the Womens Christian Temperance Union should know the history of the seven years’ hard struggle and the preceding efforts. Too frequently in these days it is brushed aside with the remark that the women of New Zealand had the vote given to them with no effort on their part. Nothing is farther from the truth.

The campaign had really three stages. In 1843 Sir William Fox and Mr Alfred Saunders had advocated votes for women, but the FIRST STAGE really began in 1869 with the work of Mrs Muller of Nelson, who, under the pen name, of “Femina”, issued a pamphlet entitled “An Appeal to the Men of New Zealand”. This was written under some strain, as her husband was not in sympathy with her views. When the campaign w-as over she wrote to Mrs Sheppard, “I am an old woman now’, but I thank God that I have been able to register myself as an elector and now l look forward with hope’’. The SECOND STAGE took the form of a male effort to obtain the female franchise. This began in 1878, when Dr Wallis of Auckland introduced the first Franchise Bill. A male member commented, “Dr Wallis wasted one and a half hours on a ridiculous proposal”. Yet Dr Wallis was supported bv Sir William Fox, Sir Robert Stout. Sir John Hall and Mr Alfred Saunders. The Bill was lost by 29 votes to 19.

In 1879 Sir John Ballance divided the House on the question, and it was lost by 8 votes. The next eight years was a period of political and economic unrest and the matter was dormant. In 1887 two Bills were introduced by Sir Julius Vogel, the first passing one reading and the second two readings, then to be dropped.

FRANCHISE DAY 19th SEPTEMBER 1958

The Women * Christian Temperance Union

The work commenced by Mrs MulLr was later to be completed by women who had to learn to act together. So the THIRD STAGE is the story of seven years of hard work organised by the Women’s Christian Temperance Union. This had commenced in 1874 in USA. In 1885 Mrs M. C. Leavitt visited many countries, including New Zealand, bringing with her a POLYGLOT PETITION urging all Governments to prohibit the manufacture of alcohol and other dangerous drugs. VV.C.T. Uniqps were formed in the main centres and Mrs Leavitt advised them to work for the female franchise, as in doing so they woud gain a powerful weapon for the protection of the home The first W.C.T.U. Convention was held in 1886 and the women there decided to embark straightway on a campaign and appointed as Franchise Superintendent Mr* K. W. Sheppard, a young, attractive and gifted woman. She was like a general, ably employing all manner of strategy. Mrs Sheppard pointed .out that social work, such as hospitals, asylums, protection of women and children, w*as largely .affected by Acts of Parliament. W’omen were not considered in the definition of “persons” as far ns political rights were concerned. In fact they were or. a par with infants, criminals and lunatics, who were specified as exceptions to the persons who could vote, but she said, “So far as paying rates and taxes, we have realised we are persons for many years." Women were women for duties and obligations but not for rights and privileges. Leaflets were freely distributed among societies and in public places. Paragraphs and correspondence were inserted in the newspapers. The great feature of the campaign was the organising of three Petitions to Parliament. One, in 1891, had 10.085 signatures, one, in 1892, with 20,274, and one in 1893 with 31,874, being nearly one-third of the total number of women in New Zealand. An offer of limited franchise was refused. The Bill was finally passed in August 1893 by two votes. A desperate minority, mainly liquor sellers, petitioned the Governor not to sign the Bill, but Mrs Sheppard wrote to him, pointing out that many members had been elected pledged to support it and the matter had been much before the public. On September 19th, 1893, Mrs Sheppard received from the Prime Minister a telegram saying that the Governor had given his assent to the Bill. At the first election 82 per cent of the women voted and 70 per cent of the men. Congratulations poured in from other countries. The right for women to. enter Parliament w'as not gained until 1919. In 1933, forty years after the gaining of the women’s franchise, congratulations again poured in from other countries—this time to New Zealand’s first woman Member of Parliament, Mr* Elizabeth McComb*. former Dominion Treasurer of the W.C.T.U.

What a goodly heritage belongs to those of us wdio are White Ribboners! While we believe in the ultimate triumph of good, we owe to the mem-

ory of our great forebears the duty of taking an active part in the field of human relations and using our rights and influence to raise the standard of public life. There were many earnest Christian women among those who woiked for the female franchise and the One they served has said to us, “Occupy till I come”. In our Churches there are all too may who sit back in apathy and make no protest whatever against steadily encroaching evil. This should go hand in hand with Foreign Missions otherwise our own condition in this land betrays our witness.