HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1557, 13 May 1887, Page 2

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

• The House met at 2.30 p.m. QUESTIONS. Replying to questions It was stated that Government could not recommend a reduction to fiya Ministers, and that the Ministerial salaries were not considered excessive m view of the Jlarge demands made on them ; that no stepß had been taken to pat a atop to glove fights as they were not considered illegal as long as a breaoh of the peace was not committed. ■WOMEN'S SCFFiUOE BILL. Sir Julius Yogel moved the second reading of the Women's Suffrage Bill, aßking members not to traat it In v frivolous spirit. Be was not propping it for the sake of novelty. It c >uld be atriotly defended on logical grounds. Wer« the intellectual powers of women so much below those of men as to exclude^ them from the franchise ? He hold that with cultivation they would be developed quite as highly aa taose of the 'male sex. No one could deny that women could speak readily. Their thoughtfulness, Bympatby, and powers of endurance fully made up for phyaioal in'eriority. Ha did not disguise bis belief that if admitted to the franchise the admission to a share m the government of the country must follow. The glorious reign of Q leen Victoria was an argument fn favor of his contention. Laws made m the past had not dealt fairly with woni9n, and it wbb right their assistance Bhould be called m to deal with matters peculiarly nffjo'fng them, m foot all bulj -c<s of social importance. Men oonßulted women constantly m all stages of lie, and why not publicly? Of late years old prejudices against the appearance of we men m public capacities had rapidly been dissipated. It was only quite, litoly that women had been enooraged to bee i me property holders, whereas In great Britain the qualification was a large property one. That was not so much the case hare, where population was rather the basis. He besought them no longer to outlaw women.

Mr Mobs said notwithstanding his deep reverence and great regard for women he should vote agalnet the Bil'.

Mr O'Gonor knew of no reason why they should not take counsel with women as a man did with hiß wif f.

Mr Brackon thought woman's sphere was the arena of Denevolence and good worka. If they dragged hor into the tarmoila of politics she would become man's rival, and not hia helpmate. Mr Innce disagreed with Sir Julias Vogel'u . ded chlons, and he w ;uld do everything m hia power to oppose a measure of this abrfc, because he believed it wou'd destroy domestic happiness and comfort. Mr W. F. Buckland was* Btrongly m favor .of the Bill. Mr Bruce could conceive that the admission of wtmon to vote would have & prejudicial influence on questions of great national importance. He bade them seriously reflect what the C3nßequencß9 would be of having ladie3 sitting la the House He agroed wtlh Air Liacca that women themselves did not ivanfc the Bil).

Mr Eergus combatf ed Mr BruooV viewß and quoted Disraeli's, Gladstone's, Hare's and Oowen'a views m favor of the aclrait son of women to the franchiao. Mr Hobba said Mr Bruce's waa tho speech of a oruaty old batohelor. He took exoip'ion to the a'atements of Mr Linca.

Mr Stewart siid the present stito of the law was v just and illogical. Mr Wi Piere thought the Bill would become a source of end leas trouble. In the Houße ladies would distraot the atfcention of some hon mamberc Although getting up m yoira he must confess he would be effected with that weaknras himself. They would have to confine the sufferago to plain women, for if beautiful ladies came there no business would ba done, particularly by the older members In fact ho was quite sure h>s wife would not let him corns b'aok. Mr Monk felt proud to be a member of a House m which the question waa first seriously discussed. Dr Newman thought there was too muoh levity for bo rorious a question. There could be no question that the suffer ago wonld Improve the status " of women, and that if women had taken pari m legislature o(. the paßt, many of the statutes which oncumber the law books would never have been phced there. Mr Ivess considered they were not aoting wisely In withholding the right to vote from women, who were proportyholderaj but he was not m favor of giving univeraal Bufferaga at present. Women must first be educated up to it, and they had better begin with the thin end of the wedge.

Mr Holmes hoped to hear the Treasurer m" a few duys spo*k # with eloquence o i a more Important imbjeot.

Mr Rassell said there had not boon a single attempt by any speaker to prove disability ou the part of women.

Mr J. C. Buckland thought Sir Julius Vogol had not made bo much of his cbbg as he migh*\ Mr S. McKenzie had not heard a Blog'e argument to iodaco him to vote for the Bill.

Mr Kerr.^in a apeoch provocative of much la ighter, expre :aed himself, as opposed to the measure.

The Premier aaid that when the qiestion waa discussed n'ne yacra ago it was only lost by a few vote 3 and then there ware not bo nnny advocates aa now. The strongest argument against it was that the adcuiasion of women would lead to i\o State assamtng new fanctlona, and there would bo danger front their political ignorance. The sooner, however, Ihey were put into political training tho hotter. Ho did not beliove m tho asaerlion that voting would interfere with tho modoaty or propriety of womoD. On the contrary, it wou'd raise the politics of both women and men to a higher place. Mr J?yke *had odme to the GDncluaion upon mature consideration :> £hst women were quite as capable pf judging of a candidate for parliamentary honors aa men, and they were qui'e entitled to electoral righto.

Mr Montgomory said Ihla.waa not the first time the question had been before the House, »s in 1879 the word "peraon" waa substituted for <( male," and it waa only slruok oat on the committal of the Bill. He thought th9y Bhould be very cireful how" t]tay brought ' woman Into contact with matters of this kind. He I %sked it wise for the 'House to throw an " apple of discord •" Jnto jthe household by Riving thig pplyUege. Iv hia option they would" be wise jiot |;o extend the franchise, but he hoped £he second reading of the #Hl wpdld be carried m order that women with property might be allowed to vote. Mr Barron waa quite sure whether th*y passed the Bill or not, that tho time waa within mensurable disiatioe when all priytyegpa n,7w sough.t to be ponferred on womerfwouiij peglyea to them. Mr" Walker pointed out that woman already had the propopiy Qjaaliticatlon : &^>4

members had no right to vote for the seoond reading of the Bill who did not believe In tho principle of it, •Mr F, H. Fraeer supported the Bill, ( bat could not understand why members who professed to have admiration for • women should refuse to give them this ( privilege, -, Mr Leveßtan supported the Bill, but j thought it undesirable to make changes , too suddenly.' Mr Jones would not vote for the Bill , In its entirety. j Mr White was opprsed to the Bill, and . Mr Gore supported it, Mr Fißher said that women now only { went tc the poll with great reluctance. Colonel Trimble supported the Bill as he oonaidered women were In all reapeoto equal to men. Mr Bsvan opposed the Bill and Mr Fiizberbert intended to vote for the second reading. Mr Samuel opposed the Blil and moved the adjournment of tha debate which was loßt by 32 to 29. The motion for the second reading was agreed to 40 to 22.