Artist unknown: A charming canvass! (Tenderly to lady next door) - "Say! straight! You'll vote for Alfred Richard, won't yer? ..." [1905]

Flyer, with the front showing a caricature drawing of a slovenly drunk woman who is singing the praises of political candidate Alfred Richard Barclay, and vowing to vote for him. She criticises "Mister Bedford" (Henry Dodgshun Bedford). A small "sequel" shows her in a worse state, beggining for her voting papers back because she accidently voted for Bedford instead of Barclay.

The verso shows advertisements for retailers Laidlaw & Gray, for Thurmer pianos from the London Organ & Piano Company, and for the Union Steam Ship Company of New Zealand.

This flyer is probably a political campaign poster for Harry Bedford, who supported Temperance; hence the unattractive drunk woman who was too confused to vote for her choice (Bedford's opponent Alfred Richard Barclay). It may also have been a criticism of women's political judgement. Bedford had entered parliament in 1902 at the age of 25 with a huge majority, but the declining fortunes of New Liberal Party which he joined, meant that he lost the seat in 1905. Barclay won.

Inscriptions: Recto - bottom centre - [in pencil] Elections 1905 Dunedin

Quantity: 1 b&w photo-mechanical print(s).

Physical Description: Offset prints on both sides of flyer, 282 x 232 mm.