The Temperance Movement

The Women's Christian Temperence Union was the principle organisations through which women organised to gain the vote. The WCTU saw that much of the suffering that women endured was related to the high level of alcoholism and drunkeness that existed in New Zealand. The sale of liquor was almost completely uncontrolled, and this of course meant that the breweries and liquor retailers were making huge profits out of the misery of men and women.

The liquor lobby was most antagonistic towards the suffrage movement because they realised the threat which women having the vote would pose to them.

Seddon used the liquor lobby extensively to block and destroy measures coming into the House to give women the vote.

In 1878, 1879, 1880 and 1881, the question of women's suffrage was introduced to the House but each time it failed. However the heavy voting in favour of each motion showed the extent to which the women's movement had been able to mobilise support.