William Sidney Smith

“ Womanhood Suffrage was one of the most prominent questions raised at the last election, and every candidate, I believe without exception, declared himself as either favourable or antagonistic to the enfranchisement of women. ”

“ The constituencies having elected a large majority of representatives who were avowedly supporters of Womanhood Suffrage, the assertion made in clause 3 of the protest forwarded to your Excellency is absolutely without foundation and contrary to fact. I sincerely trust that your Excellency will not allow the action taken by both Houses of Parliament in acceding to the petition of 31,000 women of the colony to be frustrated. ”

“ The Premier, however, announced that the Government would deal with the omission in a special Bill. On September 19th Mr Seddon forwarded to Mrs Sheppard the following telegram:—"The Electoral Bill assented to by his Excellency the Governor at a quarter to twelve this day," and the enfranchisement of every adult woman of New Zealand was at last achieved. ”