suffrage
bill, which after two days' debate was defeated by 70 to 30 votes. In
1914 Mr. Wyndham's bill did not reach a vote. In 1917 Mr. Rockey's was
defeated by 63 to 28. In 1918 a woman suffrage clause in the new
Electoral Bill was defeated by 54 to 39. All this time the splendid
service and sacrifice of the women during the long years of the war
was being lauded, while St. Paul's definition of their "sphere" was
being quoted as a reason for not giving them the suffrage.

In January, 1919, a conference took place in Cape Town and it was
decided that the three suffrage associations unite immediately and
form a standing committee of their parliamentary secretaries through
which intensive work could be done with the Parliament. On April 1 Mr.
Wyndham introduced the following motion: "In the opinion of this House
the sex qualification for the exercise of the parliamentary franchise
should be removed." It simply affirmed the principle but was
strenuously debated without regard to party lines and finally carried
by a vote of 44 to 42. No further action was taken. Mrs. Laura Ruxton,
parliamentary secretary, attended the convention of the Government
Party to present the question, addressed it and the resolution to put
a woman suffrage plank in the platform was carried by 72 to 58. The
Unionist, Labor and South African parties accepted it, the Nationalist
Party alone refusing it. At a banquet in Bloemfontaine Premier Botha
appealed to the Parliament, saying that in view of the great services
of women during the war the men would be compelled to give them the
franchise. He died soon afterwards and petitions from the most
representative citizens then began to pour in upon his successor,
General Smuts.

In 1920 Daniel McLaren Brown presented a resolution that in the
opinion of this House the time has arrived when the right of voting
for members of Parliament and the Provincial Councils should be
extended to women. After a two days' debate it passed on May 3 by 66
ayes, 39 noes, a majority of 27 as against two a year before. Mr.
Brown then introduced a bill conferring this right. A deputation of
500 women carried an immense petition for it to the Parliament and it
passed first reading by 66 to 47. Although Premier Smuts had supported
it as "a great and necessary reform" and promised it every chance he
declined to make it a Government measure or give any facilities for
second reading. Mr. Brown and his House Committee and the Hon