WOMEN S FRANCHISE.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2616, 25 September 1909, Page 3

WOMEN S FRANCHISE.

THE ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATED There was a large attendance in TownJey’s Hall yesterday afternoon, when, under the auspices of the Cook County AVdmerVs Guild a meeting was held to commemorate the granting of the franchise to the women of New Zealand.

The Mayoress (Mrs. AV. D. Lysnar) presided, and said in her opening address that they had met there to commemorate the anniversary of tho granting of the franchise to women in this Dominion. The result had shown that the women have not abused tho privilege granted to them, but, on the contrary. it might fairly he said that a great deal of good had been done, anti certainly encouraged the women to take an interest in tho welfare of the place. ‘-Take, for instance,” she added, “the children’s home, which lias been built in Gisborne by the efforts of the women, and is doing good work.” Then there was the maternity home, which is now being established by the women. It was to be regretted that since’ their last meeting the death of Mr. Sievwright had taken place. He attended their last meeting, and was a great help to .them, and she was sure they would miss liis presence that day. (Applause.) Mrs. Walker addressed the meeting as follows:—“I should like to say a few words on the object of our meeting here to-day. -Some peopel say wliat is the use of celebrating Franchise Day. A T ou have got the vote and there is no need to trouble about anything else. But the idea of keeping the day should he something more than commemoration. AVe should try to realise more the duties and .responsibilities that go with it. AVe have got the franchise much more .easily than some of the older countries, and there is some danger of our not valuing it enough. AA r e women who have formed ourselves into Unions and Guilds might he a great power if we would combine and agree upon what we want and set ourselves to get it. There are many problems before us to-day that it will take the best thought of both men and women to solve, and there are local bodies that would be all the better for having women on them, hospital and charitable aid boards especially. Some . women are indolent and careless and thoughtless, but there are many who are thoughtful and intelligent, and whose home duties do not take up all their time. Of course while our children are little our thoughts and minds are taken up in our homes, which is only natural and right: but the children grow up, and both boys and girls in these days very soon go out into the world, and that is why it is only natural lor women- — mothers —to feel that they want to help in making better tlie conditions under which their children are to live and work, and we generally find that the women who take the most intelligent interest in outside work are those whose homes arc also best cared for. I do not think either that we shoulci let Franchise Day pass without remembering those two who did so much for the cause of women, and also in every way sot such a high and noble example to us all. I speak of Mr and Mrs. Sievwright. AVe feel that in airs. Sievwright’s case her life was shortened by her unselfish and uncompromising allegiance to what she felt was right, and to-day we feel very much the loss of Air. Sievwright, who was with us last Franchise Day, and spoke to us then of the need of awakening more to a some of our duties, and taking full advantage of the opportunities that are open to us now. AA e have lost these two who were in every sense our leaders, but their influence is still felt amongst us, and in commemorating Franchise Day we. also commemorate their memory.” (Applause.) On behalf of Airs. Andrew Graham,. Mrs. Walker then read an interesting paper on “Citizenship.” . Rev. J. A. Lochore said that m his work in New Zealand he had heard a great deal of the good work done, by the late Air. and Airs. Sievwright. He felt that the influence of women in New Zealand politics had been considerable, although critics had been inclined to underestimate it. The evils of gambling and the liquor traffic were still with them, and' only a few days ago their own member, the Hon. das. Carroll. accompanied by another Alinkter of the Crown, attended the opening of a club in AVellington, which was recognised 1 throughout the Dominion as a professional gambling c’ub. AVomen, perhaps, allowed themselves to be dominated too much by the mind of mere man, and the fact that they had had no changes of political power was perhaps one reason that the influence of the women’s franchise had not been felt to a greater extent. Few women took part in polities in a general way, and he regarded women as-having finer sensibilities than man, and had looked for higher fruits of- the franchise than seemingly had resiiltcd. AA; omen’s votes had had a considerable influence on the No-license poll, and lie urg°d upon those present the necessity of living up to the advantages of the franchise, which made them practically free women. He concluded by congratulating the women that nothing of the suffragette demonstrations had -as yet touched New Zealand. Airs. Alelksham, of the Salvation Army, said that she wag not a politician. She thought the women of G:sborne bad been sleeping quite long enough. There were difficult problems to be dealt with in the town, and they could only he dealt with by women. If they knew what she had gone through as regards the social work, during the past week, they would he shocked. There was a cause for all; the trouble, and women were going to get at the bottom of it, and she would like to urge upon all women to do their part. A sad state of affairs existed at present in Gisborne, and some of the thingsthat she had seen, and been told, were enough to make her blood boil. It appeared to her that Gisborne was a dumping ground for a bad class of people. Fcr their own .good and for the wood of their boys- and girls she would tell any of them, some of the oases she had met with. During ilfo last seven months 63 or 64 illegitimate children had been born in Gisborne, and only four of the mothers of these children were- over 20 years of age. This was surely a .proMem for them. , She advocated the presence of women on the public bodies, and it was tlie duty of every woman to go into public life. She trusted they would all rise and shoulder their responsibility. _ Rev. AVm. Grant offered his congratulation tfo the ladies on the great occasion they were met to commemorate. AVomen had not realised that the great privilege cf the franchise .was not a thing to be thought lightly'- of. There was- .no reason that women who were fitted should not go to Parliament, to give the country the benefit of their advice and experience, and he would impress upon the women that the great privilege carried with it a great and grave responsibility. The Rev. AV. iLamb said he deemed it to be an exalted privilege to bo present

at the .meeting. The day tliat tlie franchise was granted to women marked an epoch in the upward lifting of humanity, and they should certainly never have had the success they had if it had not been for the vote of the women. He believed that women were, more and more, learning to intelligently exorcise- their votes. There were a great many men who, ho thought, should not have the 'franchise, being led and driven wherever their leaders required them. If they could only get a sufficient number of men and -women to wake -up to the great possibilities of social reform, there would be a -great change in the position. Every member of Parliament should he a thoroughly moral man* and his morals should he an example tfl. the -people, whom he represented. In matters of social inequality women and children were the greatest sufferers, and much could be done to help them. He believed every Christian ought to be a politician, and he intended to f use his influence to bring people to a sense pf their responsibility in this direction. He congratulated them on having tlie franchise. Had they hadrit long ago the world would bo better than it was at present. Air. J. R. Kirk added his eougratu’at.ions on the successful work accomplished since the granting of the franchise to women. There were manv women in tlie world who had not even their liberty, let alone the franchise, and they might congratulate themselves on tlie liberty that they had. Sixteen years ago a majority of two in a vote gave women the franchise, and the men who had assisted humanity deserved to live in history. He was quite satisfied' with the work accomplished by women since then, as it was better to exercise a sweet and pervading influence which would break down the barriers opposed to it, than by a sweeping, -rushing wave. Their political men were, very largely, what the women made them, ami if they would exercise their privilege in the -right direction, they would make public life what it ought to _ be. They would soon learn to tell if a man was genuine, and able to withstand any temptation which might come to him. The day might be coming when women would he on -public bodies. He would do nothing to stop it. but ho would ask them to let it coinb slowly, -and at the right time. Let them* in tho meantime, cultivate- thenminds and fit themselves to exercise tho privileges which they might then enjoy. In conclusion, he congratulated them on tho good work which had been done hv the women of Gisborne. They had built a foundation, the end of which and the crowning glory cf which thev might never see. Airs. Scott also addressed the meeting. Women wanted the franchise, not to get into public life, but to give their sister and tho unborn infant a chance to live. Gisborne was, she believed. » town blessed with good men and women. She reviewed the work that had been done by the women of Gisborne during recent years. AA'ithout the aid and ad vice of women, men could not be expected tx> provide wise .laws, but a woman's clear duty was to look after her children, and keep them off the street, otherwise they would probably see something that they would not care to see. She paid a high tribute to the worth of Airs. Townlev and the late Mrs. Sievwright Where there was wickedness amongst women there was double wickedness" amongst men, and only recently a woman had been placed in the dock and tried by men, but where, she asked, was the other party to the ease? That wou’d have to come out. and it was going to come out. While the Guild was in existence there was no need for any woman or child in Gisborne t-o suffer any want. Concocluding, Airs. Scott proposed a hearty voto of sympathy with the women of England, who had not yet succeeded in getting their votes. The motion was seconded by Airs. Adams, and carried bv acclamation. Votes, of thanks to tlie speakers ami to the Ala yor ess brought the meeting to a termination.