Page:Outlines of the women's franchise movement in New Zealand.djvu/111

 the Governor a petition asking him to withhold his assent to the Bill on the following grounds:—"(1) It is a Bill of an extraordinarily important nature, and the rights and property of her Majesty's subjects not resident in the colony are seriously affected, as results may seriously embarrass the finances of the colony, thereby injuriously affecting the public creditor, who was unaware that such legislation was seriously contemplated. (2) We firmly believe that the majority of the settlers of both sexes are opposed to the measure. (3) There has been no opportunity yet afforded to the electors to express their opinions on the subject."

The first clause of the Councillors' petition was manifestly