An excerpt from a round-up of election meetings in 1893. New Zealand women are voting for the first time.
[November 24, 1893 – New Zealand Herald] A well-attended meeting of women electors was held in the Mount Albert Hall yesterday afternoon. Mrs. W. Rattray was in the chair, and briefly stated the object of the meeting, which was to explain the proper method of voting, and the sort of men for whom women should vote.
The chairwoman urged all women electors to vote only for men of good moral character, men who, irrespective of party, would do their best for their country and their constituency. She then pointed out some of the faults of the so-called Liberal Government, the increase of members’ pay, the additions to the Upper House, etc., saying that women had to bear the extra taxation as well as men.
Mrs. Kerr-Taylor said that the Government had no right to take land from the owners just as they pleased. She thought that men who could not manage their own affairs and pay 20s in the pound were not to be trusted to manage the affairs of State. She was strongly of opinion that Mr. Mitchelson was the best man whom they could return. In this the other speakers agreed.
Mrs. Daldy then very clearly explained by means of a blackboard the way to vote, and urged the women electors to all vote and to return good men and true.
Mrs. Rattray then asked if anyone present would like to say something in favour of Mr. Dargaville or Mr. Niccol, as she was strongly in favour of fair play and hearing both sides of a question. No one spoke.
Mrs. Schnackenberg said that a committee of six ladies would attend each polling booth in town to help any women voters who had children in arms and required assistance in any way. Mrs. Kerr-Taylor would be at the Mount Albert Hall, she herself at Point Chevalier, and they wanted someone at Kingsland. A hearty vote of thanks to Mrs. Daldy terminated the meeting.