Thomas Kelly (1830 – 20 September 1921) was a 19th-century Member of Parliament in

Taranaki Taranaki is a region in the west of New Zealand's North Island. It is named after its main geographical feature, the stratovolcano of Mount Taranaki, also known as Mount Egmont. The main centre is the city of New Plymouth. The New Plymouth Dist ...

, New Zealand. He represented the Town of New Plymouth electorate from to 1879, and then the (renamed)

New Plymouth New Plymouth ( mi, Ngāmotu) is the major city of the Taranaki region on the west coast of the North Island of New Zealand. It is named after the English city of Plymouth, Devon from where the first English settlers to New Plymouth migrated. ...

electorate from to 1884, when he was defeated. He then became a member of the Legislative Council from 1892 to 1913. In 1893 Kelly, a new councillor was at the centre of a drama that led to the passing of the

Women's suffrage Women's suffrage is the right of women to vote in elections. Beginning in the start of the 18th century, some people sought to change voting laws to allow women to vote. Liberal political parties would go on to grant women the right to vot ...

bill into law. Premier Seddon had expected to stop the bill in the upper house, but found that one more vote was needed. Kelly had left himself paired in favour of the measure, but Seddon obtained his consent by wire to change his vote. Seddon's manipulation so incensed two opposition councillors William Reynolds and

Edward Cephas John Stevens Edward Cephas John Stevens (18 October 1837 – 6 June 1915) was a New Zealand politician in provincial government in Canterbury, and a member of both the lower and upper houses of parliament. A businessman, he controlled the Christchurch ...

that they changed sides and voted for the bill, allowing it to pass by 20 votes to 18 and so gave the vote to women. Kelly died at his home in Bell Block on 20 September 1921, and was buried at

Te Henui Cemetery Te Henui Cemetery, also known as New Plymouth Cemetery, is the oldest public cemetery in New Plymouth, New Zealand. It was first used in 1861. The New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage gives a translation of "the great mistake" for . ...

References

1830 births 1921 deaths Members of the New Zealand House of Representatives Members of the New Zealand Legislative Council People from New Plymouth New Zealand Liberal Party MLCs Unsuccessful candidates in the 1884 New Zealand general election Unsuccessful candidates in the 1887 New Zealand general election New Zealand MPs for North Island electorates Burials at Te Henui Cemetery 19th-century New Zealand politicians {{NewZealand-politician-stub