In 1888 Sheppard was President of the Christchurch branch of the WCTU, and presented a report to the national convention in Dunedin, where the convention decided that prohibition and women's suffrage would be the organisation's central aim. Sheppard made public speeches on suffrage in Dunedin, Oamaru, and Christchurch, and in doing so developed a confident speaking style. To reinforce her message, she gave audiences leaflets produced in Britain and the United States.[36] Sheppard then published her own single-sheet pamphlet titled Ten Reasons Why the Women of New Zealand Should Vote which displayed her "dry wit and logical approach".[7][37] A copy was sent to every member of the House of Representatives.[38]