Petition for one woman one vote.

*THE WORKER*

Brisbane May 5, 1894

The Woman's Equal Franchise

Association.

ONE WOMAN ONE VOTE.

The Woman's Equal Franchise Association is now fairly under weigh, and the office-bearers are: Mrs. Miller, president: Mrs. Briggs and Mrs. M'Phie, vice-presidents: and Miss Hughes, secretary.

The wording of the petition for one woman one vote was adopted by a large and enthusiastic meeting of women recently held in the Temperance Hall, Brisbane. The petition prepared for signature reads as follows: “This petition humbly sheweth that we, the undersigned women of the colony of Queensland, are of opinion that the time has arrived when the trust of Parliamentary franchise can be safely and consistently extended to all white women who have been resident in the colony for a period of six months.

1. Your petitioners humbly submit that, as all women have to obey the laws, it is only just that they should have a voice in the selection of legislators who make the laws.
2. That the franchise has been granted to both white and Maori women in New Zealand, and that, so far as can be ascertained, they have exercised their right in the true interest of order and good government.
3. Assuming civilisation is to advance, its progress must be slow so long as one section of the community – a section equally as important as the other – is kept in political subjection.

We therefore humbly submit that your honourable House will be pleased to take into your serious consideration the advisableness of introducing a bill granting to white women the franchise embodying the principle of one adult one vote and one only. It was questioned at the meeting also whether women could demand to vote under the existing electoral law owing to the application of the Acts Shortening Act of 1867, which says, “Words importing the masculine gender shall be deemed to include females, unless the contrary as to gender is expressly provided.” This matter is to be tested at an early date. If the law permits of women voting under the present Elections Act, it is all the more necessary the Women's Equal Franchise Association should continue to agitate for one woman one vote.