he
question was in a speech of Sir Julius Vogel to his constituents in
1876, when he said that he was in favor of extending the franchise to
women--but as far back as 1869 a pamphlet on the subject, entitled An
Appeal to the Men of New Zealand, had been written by Mrs. Mary
Mueller, who may be fitly termed the pioneer woman suffragist of that
colony.

In 1878 the Government introduced an Electoral Bill which included the
franchise for rate-paying women; this passed the House of
Representatives but met with much opposition in the Upper House on
points unconnected with women's suffrage, so that it was ultimately
withdrawn.

In 1887 Sir Julius Vogel, Colonial Treasurer, introduced a Bill
giving practically universal suffrage to women. This was supported by
the Premier, Sir Robert Stout, and passed the House of Representatives
May 12, 1887, by 41 ayes, 22 noes. Several Members stated that they
only voted for it in the hope that in Committee it would be limited to
owners of property. An amendment proposed to this effect in Committee
was rejected, but this proved a fatal victory, for when the clause was
put as it stood the "noes" carried the day.

A resolution moved by Sir John Hall in 1890, carried by a majority of
26, was a further note of encouragement.

The work for Women's Suffrage was mainly carried on by the Women's
Christian Temperance Union, and they now put forth increased energy,
so that early in 1891 Mrs. Kate W. Sheppard, Franchise Superintendent,
was able to report that many local unions had appointed franchise
superintendents. With what effect they worked was shown when Sir John
Hall presented in August, 1891, a petition for the suffrage seventy
yards long, which was run out to the furthest end of the House; a row
of Members ranged themselves on either side to inspect the signatures
and found no two alike, as some seemed to expect. On September 4th Sir
John Hall's Bill again passed in the House of Representatives, but was
lost by two votes in the Legislative Council, or Upper House.

In 1892 Sir John Hall presented in behalf of the measure the largest
petition ever seen in the New Zealand Parliament. That year the Hon.
J. Ballance introduced an Electoral Bill on behalf of the Government,
in which the most important new feature was the franchise for women.
It passed the House of Representatives, but a difference on technical
details between the two branches of the Legislature delayed its
passage in the Co