William Sidney Smith

“ Sir John concluded by saying that he had been led by a long consideration of the matter to the conviction that woman is entitled to be placed on a perfect equality with man. If, however, he could not get equality—he would take such measure as he could get. He was aware that those who were prepared to give the whole loaf would vote against those who would give only half a loaf, and that those who would give half a loaf would vote against those who would give the whole loaf, and thus any progress would be imperilled. ”

“ In his speech, Sir John pointed out that the principle on which the Electoral Franchise in the colony was based was that every resident adult had the right to a voice in making the laws by which he was governed. Mr Gladstone had said, "All who live in a country should take an interest in that country, love that country: and the vote gives that sense of interest, fosters that love." ”

“ He thought that a gentleman who had the courage to face the laughter, the ridicule, the empty jeers of unthinking persons, and bring forward a subject of great national importance, was entitled to the thanks of every thinking person in the Colony. Mr Reeves was in favour of Woman Suffrage, but doubted the expediency of granting it all at once. He announced himself to be a half-loaf man, and advocated restricting the franchise to women over 21 years of age who had passed the matriculation examination of the University. ”

“ Women have sat side by side with men on Committees and Boards, have worked with them in Day Schools and Sunday Schools, have presided over large public meetings, and have even opened Parliament without any dire consequences. ”

“ The most salient part of his oration was that in which he implored the House to try and imagine the feelings of a man coming home tired and finding his parlour or drawing room filled with a lot of noisy and declamatory women talking politics. Mr Tanner supported the motion, but thought they should be careful to guard against women entering Parliament. ”

“ Instead of Sir John Hall being a friend to women he was their greatest enemy, for he was trying to put them in a position for which God Almighty had entirely unfitted them. The Bible showed the proper position of women. ”