Votes for Women.

Another direction in which he strongly advocated progressive legislation was in connection with electoral rights. He strenuously worked, from 1879 onward, for women's franchise. A Bill to this end had been introduced in Parliament several times without success. When he became Premier he gave a pledge that the franchise would be made a Government measure, and on his death Mr. Seddon took up the Bill and it was passed into law in September, 1893. Ballance's spirit should have rejoiced at this crowning triumph of many years of struggle for women's rights.