Campaign Methods and Goals
By 1890 the amount of women across New Zealand that were involved in campaigning for the right to vote had dramatically increased, and the methods they used in their campaign varied. One of the most famous strategies of the suffragists would have been the petitions they conducted. Petition after petition went through New Zealand, each time gaining more and more signatures and popularity. in 1891, for example, eight petitions, signed by over 9000 New Zealand women all supporting women’s franchise was presented to the House of Representatives[1]. Then again in 1892 six petitions with over 19,000 signatures went to the House of Representatives[2]. Suffrage supporters also gave speeches and lectures when they could, for example Mrs Colclough and Dr James Wallis. Dr Wallis also introduced a Women’s Franchise Bill in 1890, as well as his speech outlining the benefits to New Zealand women’s suffrage would bring. Dr Wallis firmly believed in the franchise, saying, “The day was beginning to dawn - the light which was now visible in the east would grow brighter and brighter. The greatest and most promising movement of the age had begun”[3].
Often the ideas presented by suffrage supporters were extremely controversial, such as education for their daughters and equality in their marriages. They also had articles and pieces suggesting very modern twists one current societal ideas; for example the girl being the one to ask the guy on a date, or that women could go out and get proper paid jobs while the men stayed at home to look after the children. These ideas are expressed in some of the suffrage poetry used to gain support, such as in “Girls in Parliament”, written anonymously and published in October 1891. It says “John will have to nurse the twins, keep little Jane from swallowing pins, with the remaining children round his shins, whilst his wife records her vote” [4]. These showed the long term goals of the franchise supporters, and how they wanted women to eventually be able to fully choose their own paths, and not the ones society has laid out for them. Letters and articles were written as both propositions and responses to anti-suffrage supporters, and were published in pamphlets, newspapers and brochures, read out in meetings, and spread however they could be. In 1892 the Women’s Franchise League was established in Dunedin, before it spread to other New Zealand towns and cities. The final thirteen suffrage petitions asking for women’s right to vote were presented to the House of Representatives in 1893, having gained nearly 32,000 signatures. After many debates, the Electoral Bill granting women the right to vote was passed on September 19, 1893. |
Temperance
One of the main factors contributing to women gaining the vote was they support they had had from the New Zealand Temperance movement. In 1886, the Temperance Union and president Anne Ward decided at its annual convention in Wellington to work with the Suffrage movement. This was because both parties essentially wanted the same thing - to be able to change liquor laws. The two worked well together, as both served each others purposes - suffragettes had more resources as well as the support they needed for political enfranchisement, and women gaining the vote would allow temperance more influence to change laws around alcohol distribution and consumption. It is widely believed that women wouldn’t have gained the vote when they did if it weren’t for the Women’s Christian Temperance Union’s support, with and Auckland resident at the time stating “they helped the women get the franchise because they knew once women got the franchise the liquor laws would be altered.”[5]
The Political Side
Throughout the campaign, many Bills and Legislations were presented to parliament aiming to enfranchise women, with the Electoral Bill being successful in September 1893 with the help of New Zealand parliament members. One of these was Sir John Hall, a member of the House at the time, and former member of the Canterbury Provincial Council. A long-time supporter of women gaining the vote, he assumed parliamentary leadership over the women’s suffrage campaign after they approached him, believing women could exercise “a conservative influence”[6] through their votes. Hall introduced unsuccessful Franchise Bills in 1890 and 1891, and his Women’s Suffrage Bill introduced in June 1893 was withdrawn in October the same year after it was superseded by the Electoral Act. His 1890 and 1891 Bills had all been majority in support in the House of Representatives, however the 1890 Bill was lapsed due to not enough time to consider it, and the 1891 Bill was defeated in the Legislative Council.
John Ballance Premiered New Zealand until his death in 1893, and he also supported women’s enfranchisement. While speaking in the House in 1890, he said “I believe in the absolute equality of the sexes, and I think they should be in the enjoyment of equal privileges in political matters.”[7] He introduced the Electoral Bill in 1892 for all women to vote, but it was later abandoned due to controversy over an ‘impractical postal vote’[8].
Richard Seddon took over Ballances’ Premiership after his death in April 1893, however he had been known to oppose Women’s Suffrage. He introduced an Electoral Bill for women’s suffrage in June 1893, so as to not lose supporters when the elections came around at the end of that year. He had not been expecting the Bill to pass, however there was majority support for suffrage for both Maori and Pakeha women. Seddon’s Bill caused controversy among the suffrage supporters, as they knew Seddon hadn’t wanted the Bill to be popular, and had even tried to thwart it passing in the Council. Mrs Mankelow, an Auckland resident at the time, said “Old Seddon didn’t want it, you know. He put everything he could against it. And the old hypocrite, when the whole thing was over he congratulated the women, you see, on having won the franchise. And one woman looked at him and she said “You’re nothing but a hypocrite.” and he said “No, I’m a politician. I always side with the winning side”.” [9]
After last minute ‘changes of allegiance’[10] , the bill was passed to the legislative council on September 8th, and then on to be signed by the governor on September 19, 1893. This 1893 Electoral Act granted all New Zealand women the right to vote.
John Ballance Premiered New Zealand until his death in 1893, and he also supported women’s enfranchisement. While speaking in the House in 1890, he said “I believe in the absolute equality of the sexes, and I think they should be in the enjoyment of equal privileges in political matters.”[7] He introduced the Electoral Bill in 1892 for all women to vote, but it was later abandoned due to controversy over an ‘impractical postal vote’[8].
Richard Seddon took over Ballances’ Premiership after his death in April 1893, however he had been known to oppose Women’s Suffrage. He introduced an Electoral Bill for women’s suffrage in June 1893, so as to not lose supporters when the elections came around at the end of that year. He had not been expecting the Bill to pass, however there was majority support for suffrage for both Maori and Pakeha women. Seddon’s Bill caused controversy among the suffrage supporters, as they knew Seddon hadn’t wanted the Bill to be popular, and had even tried to thwart it passing in the Council. Mrs Mankelow, an Auckland resident at the time, said “Old Seddon didn’t want it, you know. He put everything he could against it. And the old hypocrite, when the whole thing was over he congratulated the women, you see, on having won the franchise. And one woman looked at him and she said “You’re nothing but a hypocrite.” and he said “No, I’m a politician. I always side with the winning side”.” [9]
After last minute ‘changes of allegiance’[10] , the bill was passed to the legislative council on September 8th, and then on to be signed by the governor on September 19, 1893. This 1893 Electoral Act granted all New Zealand women the right to vote.
Kate Sheppard
Kate Sheppard is one of the most recognised figures from the New Zealand women’s suffrage campaign. Soon after it had been formed in 1885, she had joined the Christchurch branch of the WCTU, and soon took over the role as superintendent of the franchise department. She was known to be organised, intelligent, unfazed by the criticism thrown at her, and above all, a great leader. One of her first plans as the national leader of the campaign was to make sure that there was, in each Temperance Union branch, a member solely responsible for organising suffrage in her town, with which Mrs Sheppard kept in close contact. She organised the publishings of articles and letters in newspapers, made sure meetings were well advertised to get greater attendance, as well as recruiting supportive politicians to help them through their campaign. One of these was Sir John Hall, a prominent parliamentary figure at the time, who became their chief advocate within parliament. Historian Patricia Grimshaw states he was an “invaluable ally for the women within the parliamentary arena.”[11] He gave them daily updates on their progress, and assisted them when they needed it with letters and petitions that were to be presented to legislature members. Mrs Sheppard also wrote a pamphlet explaining the case for women’s suffrage. Her first reason from her ‘Ten Reasons why the Women of New Zealand should Vote’ stated “Because a democratic government like that of New Zealand already admits the great principle that every adult person, not convicted of a crime, nor suspected of lunacy, has an inherent right to a voice in the construction of laws which all must obey”[12]. She proved to New Zealanders how women deserved the vote, and ended up becoming the face of the campaign whose goals would be achieved in September 1893.
[1], [2] Source: http://www.nzhistory.net.nz/politics/womens-suffrage/suffrage-milestones[3] The Auckland Weekly News, 23rd September 1893
[4] “Girls in Parliament”, unknown author, published 17/10/1891
[5] Interview conducted with Mrs Mankelow, unknown interviewer, RadioNZ
[6] http://www.teara.govt.nz/en/biographies/1h5/hall-john
[7],[8] http://www.teara.govt.nz/en/biographies/2b5/ballance-john
[9] Conducted with Auckland resident Mrs. Mankelow, unknown interviewer, RadioNZ
[10] Source: http://www.nzhistory.net.nz/politics/womens-suffrage/suffrage-milestones
[11], [12] ‘Women’s Suffrage in New Zealand’, Patricia Grimshaw, 1972
[4] “Girls in Parliament”, unknown author, published 17/10/1891
[5] Interview conducted with Mrs Mankelow, unknown interviewer, RadioNZ
[6] http://www.teara.govt.nz/en/biographies/1h5/hall-john
[7],[8] http://www.teara.govt.nz/en/biographies/2b5/ballance-john
[9] Conducted with Auckland resident Mrs. Mankelow, unknown interviewer, RadioNZ
[10] Source: http://www.nzhistory.net.nz/politics/womens-suffrage/suffrage-milestones
[11], [12] ‘Women’s Suffrage in New Zealand’, Patricia Grimshaw, 1972