Fight for right to vote recalled
‘‘Oh dear, what can the matter be? Women are wanting to vote.’’ It is a refrain that seems draconian in 2018, yet demonstrated the struggle against society that Kiwi women had to overcome 125 years ago.
It was heard again on Nelson streets at the weekend as theatrical group Nelson Histrionics revived one of the most important protest movements in New Zealand history – the campaign to give women the vote.
A group of about 30 marched down Trafalgar St in full period costume and with attitudes to match. Actors recreating the prominent local suffragettes of the time spoke in defence of women’s right to vote.
Accompanied by a handful of hecklers – albeit part of the show – the vocal mock protest drew a small crowd of onlookers as it wound its way to the Church Steps.
Some even asked if the march was genuine.
The march was eventually dissolved by the local constabulary, in the form of Histrionics member Gordon Taylor.
Led by Kate Sheppard, the women’s suffrage movement lobbied throughout the country in the late 19th century to obtain equal polling status. On September 19, 1893, the governor, Lord Glasgow, signed a new Electoral Act into law, making New Zealand the first selfgoverning country in the world to give all women the right to vote in parliamentary elections.
‘‘We have a lot to thank them for,’’ said Histrionics’ member Penny Taylor.
The campaign, which also involved the temperance movement seeking controls on alcohol, saw 24,000 women sign a petition that was presented to Parliament at the end of July of that year. Taylor said there were surprisingly few signatures from Nelson on the petition – only 16. ‘‘This may be because the region was a producer of tobacco and hops and therefore may not have been a great sympathiser of the temperance movement.’’
Taylor said there had been several petitions collected during previous years but the 1893 was the largest yet. ‘‘1893 was an election year and the suffragists knew that if the law was not changed before that, they would have to wait at least another three years before being able to vote.’’
Taylor said there would be many events marking the passing of the Electoral Bill into law in coming months and the group wanted to set the context of that by highlighting the events leading up to it.
A Nelson Evening Mail report from March 11, 1891, documented a women’s suffrage meeting held in Nelson on the previous day.
The attendance was so great that the meeting had to be moved to larger premises.