Sir John Hall and Women's Suffrage
Sir John Hall was the central figure in the history of women winning the vote. He was the leader of the parliamentary campaign, and his contribution was important because only men had seats in the General Assembly and only they could enact legislation. He was well qualified to head the campaign as his long and distinguished career in politics meant that he was well-versed in the factional manoeuvres necessary to pass legislation through the Assembly.
At the end of the 1870s, John Hall had backed the introduction of female franchise in both houses of the General Assembly. As a member of the Legislative Council in 1878, he had declared himself in favour of votes for all women and when he returned to the House of Representatives in 1879, he had once again supported this move.
Several years later, then, when Kate Sheppard was looking for a politician to promote the suffrage cause in parliament, Sir John was the obvious person for her to approach. She lived in Christchurch and knew that he was not only a supporter but that he was by far Canterbury’s most able and prominent politician. She wrote to him in 1888, asking him to be the women’s parliamentary advocate and he accepted immediately.
In the five years 1888 to 1893 Sir John used various methods to advance the cause. In particular, he stressed the importance of collecting signatures for the mass petitions which he would present to the House of Representatives. These petitions demonstrated conclusively that women did want the vote. When the number of signatories increased by ten thousand names each time that a petition was undertaken, it put pressure on the politicians. They could no longer avoid making votes for women a high priority. The Electoral Bill was passed in 1893.
In the Terrace Station archives are two bound volumes of newspaper cuttings, 1887-93 and 1893-94, a collection of women’s suffrage pamphlets and papers from New Zealand and other countries, and a parchment copy of the Women's Suffrage Bill.
At the end of the 1870s, John Hall had backed the introduction of female franchise in both houses of the General Assembly. As a member of the Legislative Council in 1878, he had declared himself in favour of votes for all women and when he returned to the House of Representatives in 1879, he had once again supported this move.
Several years later, then, when Kate Sheppard was looking for a politician to promote the suffrage cause in parliament, Sir John was the obvious person for her to approach. She lived in Christchurch and knew that he was not only a supporter but that he was by far Canterbury’s most able and prominent politician. She wrote to him in 1888, asking him to be the women’s parliamentary advocate and he accepted immediately.
In the five years 1888 to 1893 Sir John used various methods to advance the cause. In particular, he stressed the importance of collecting signatures for the mass petitions which he would present to the House of Representatives. These petitions demonstrated conclusively that women did want the vote. When the number of signatories increased by ten thousand names each time that a petition was undertaken, it put pressure on the politicians. They could no longer avoid making votes for women a high priority. The Electoral Bill was passed in 1893.
In the Terrace Station archives are two bound volumes of newspaper cuttings, 1887-93 and 1893-94, a collection of women’s suffrage pamphlets and papers from New Zealand and other countries, and a parchment copy of the Women's Suffrage Bill.
