Our Centenary of Women’s Suffrage
Helping women to exercise their vote – the formal approach
The electoral authorities in the Home Affairs Department drew up and published a code of instructions on how to vote, for the benefit of the newly enfranchised women voters, which was reported in several newspapers. The reports also noted however that ‘the hints therein apply with equal force to gentlemen, inasmuch as if they are followed the voter can hardly go wrong’. The Adelaide Advertiser, in referring to these instructions, noted that ‘among other things the ladies are exhorted to vote early “but at only one place”, which is an improvement on the maxim “vote early and often”’.
Several newspapers drew up a ‘voters’ guide’ – with the sequence of procedures listed simply and clearly. The Guide in the Melbourne Argus reminded voters not to strike out any name (which had been the previous voting method in Victoria) as this would invalidate the vote. It also gave the hours the polls were open – 8 am to 7 pm. It was suggested that the best time for women to vote was between 10 and 12 and 2 and 5, as ‘men will rush to the booths during the other hours’. In the Brisbane Courier’s address to women voters, it was noted that votes could be recorded any time from 8 am to 7 pm, but ‘of course the time when there will be least crush at the booths will be during the hours when the men-folk are engaged at their places of business.’
Early in the campaign a serious practical problem was identified by the Melbourne Age. This related to the exercise of the vote by women who were working in urban factories, offices and shops. As these establishments mostly closed at 6pm, this left only an hour to vote, with a subsequent rush expected at the metropolitan polling booths.
The administrator of the Home Department had dropped a heavy hint to employers, hoping ‘they would give every facility to their employees to record their votes’. As The Age commented: ‘If employers take the hint and grant the facilities either in the dinner hour or in the afternoon there should be no risk of the disenfranchisement of the working women or of overcrowding in the polling booths on 16th December.’
However, on the day following the original report, The Age stated that they had received assurances from several firms employing females ‘that they will give their hands every opportunity of exercising the franchise’.
The Advertiser also commented on this matter, noting that the Home Department paper, by encouraging women to vote mid-morning or afternoon, had reminded some considerate observers that thousands of girls and women were engaged in shops and factories at those hours. ‘Employers were being urged to liberate them at such times as may be convenient.’
A different approach to morning teas
We hear of several election teas and lunches for next Wednesday. Women voters are prepared to treat the business of the day solemnly, but they wish to bring a little lightness and brightness into the matter afterwards. Election refections will be distinguished by several new dainties. There has been a large demand for a recipe for ‘Deakin meringues’. These are charming little puffs, with a smooth creamy surface, and an absolutely hollow centre. The recipe concludes – ‘The vacuum can be filled with jam if desired’…. Smaller dainties are neat sponge cake effigies of Messrs Barker, Best, Dow, McCulloch and Styles*, each served with quantities of butter, and the neck of each being encircled with a tiny whip made of boiled and coloured sugar…. ‘Federal capital cake’ looks well, but is far too expensive for any but the most extravagant luncheons.
Women’s Realm, The Argus.
*These were Senate candidates not favoured by the paper.
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