Maker: Roseanne Cadman

Panel number: 239

Petition sheet number: 293

Person honouring: Constance M. Seth-Smith

Relationship to maker: None

Constance Seth-Smith signed the petition but probably never voted herself. 

Constance was the daughter of Rev Robert Wilson, a Protestant missionary based in Hankow, China. She married Rev Frank Seth-Smith of Ōamaru in London in January 1892.

The couple moved to Ōamaru shortly after their wedding – their oldest son Robert Frank Seth-Smith was born here in 1892. They remained in New Zealand for less than three years before moving back to England, where they had another son and two daughters. 

Constance’s husband was a recognised leader of the temperance movement in Ōamaru. He served as vice-president of the New Zealand Alliance whose aim was the total prohibition of alcohol. It is likely that he encouraged and supported Constance to sign the petition.

Constance does not appear on any New Zealand electoral rolls so although she helped get women the vote, it seems she never voted. Her sister-in-law, Sarah Annette Seth-Smith, signed the same sheet of the petition.

Constance probably died in Scarborough, England in 1935, aged 75.

Panel materials: My grandparents were the ultimate recyclers so I created the panel from scraps I had.