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The Pamphlet Collection of Sir Robert Stout: Volume 71

Woman's Franchise

Woman's Franchise.

During last Session also a measure was passed which gave to women the franchise on terms precisely similar to those which apply to men. They can, for example, register and possess the right to vote on the simple qualification of a six months' residence. A Bill to grant the Female Franchise was introduced in 1887 and passed its second reading, but further progress was barred. It has taken, therefore, six years to procure this reform. The plea that women are indifferent to the privilege is rebutted by statements which have been made that applications for registration poured in by thousands immediately the Act became law. There is no room to doubt that this measure will have an enormous influence on the future of New Zealand, and I unhesitatingly state my conviction that that influence will be a beneficial one. There is no reason whatever, that I can discern, why women should not have as large a share as men in determining the legislation which equally concerns them. The average woman is quite as intelligent and conscientious as the average man. She may not be equally informed on political questions, but it is most desirable that she should be and she has now the inducement hitherto wanting to acquire the information, which she will have no difficulty in doing. It seems to me that whenever a husband and wife are thinking of emigrating from this country the woman should turn the scale in favour of New Zealand. She will hardly have settled down before, instead of being subjected to the cold treatment of a stranger, she will find herself identified with the community by the sedulous efforts which will be made to teach her the merits of the various opinions which prevail. The full life of a Parliament in New Zealand is only three years, so that one general election is scarcely over before another is under consideration, to say nothing of bye-elections. To men, New Zealand has always offered large and varied attractions, of which freedom and self-government were not the least. The work is now crowned by women being placed on a similar footing. The mother who sees around her, children of exceptional ability may fondly, yet reasonably, hope that one of her sons will in time become Prime Minister of the Colony.