William Sidney Smith

“ Incomprehensible as it may seem, there are some minds that shrink from the very idea of being free to think and act as conscience and reason may direct. And just as to-day there are women who are antagonistic to the Removal of Women's Disabilities, so in 1887 there were many who were averse to the claim of enfranchisement. ”

“ Educative, preventive and rescue work was therefore undertaken, papers and books were published, homes and hospitals were established, and at the present time some forty separate departments of work afford ample employment for the varied abilities of the members. Each department is worked under Superintendents, who are responsible for its efficiency, and the system works admirably. ”

“ Making short halts as she journeyed from Auckland to the Bluff, she addressed meetings of women and formed District Unions in each of the larger centres of the Colony. These in their turn established local Unions in the smaller towns, and at the present time the Colony is practically covered with a network of Unions. In February, 1886, a Convention of delegates from the various Unions was held in Wellington, and a chief governing body for the Colony, now known as the New Zealand W.C.T.U., was constituted. ”