The Akaroa Mail. FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 20.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume 3, Issue 227, 20 September 1878, Page 2

The Akaroa Mail. FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 20.

On Monday and Tuesday the House of Representatives was chiefly occupied in discussing tho Electoral Bill in Committee. On the qualification clause coming up for discussion, Dr Wallis moved as an amendment to strike, out the word ** male," which would have the effect of enfranchising women. On this there was a long discussion, but the amendment was lost on a division by 36 to 26, a much narrower majority than that by which the Doctor's former proposal on the same subject was shelved, Of the members of the Government present, Messrs Macaudrew, Ballance, and Stout voted with the ayes, and Messrs Fisher and Sheehan with the noes. On the other hand, an amendment which would have had the effect of excluding female ratepayers was negatived by 42 to 23. So that as the Bill now stands, women who pay rates will be entitled to be placed on the roll, while for the other qualifications they will be excluded. On clause 22, making every duly qualified elector eligible for election, Dr Hodgkinson moved an amendment, inserting the word " male " after the word *- every." The house seems to have been afraid of its sacred precincts being invaded by women, and by 38 to 26 affirmed the .principle that their presence should only be permissible in the gallery. On the whole the result of the debate is somewhat illogical, though we are not prepared to that what is logically and theoretically right is always the most expedient. The decision arrived at by our collective wisdom appears to be that as a rule a woman is not endowed by nature with sufficient brains to warrant her being entrusted with a voice in the direction of affairs, or in the making of those laws which, in common with man, she is called upon to obey. But if she happen to be placed in a position where local rates can be demanded of her, her mental powers become suddenly expanded. The visits of the rate collector have an elevating effect on her intellect, and she may forthwith be entrusted with her fractional share in wielding the destinies of a nation. But even when she has attained this exalted eminence, she must remain in the background. She may record her vote, but on no account must she aspire to a seat in our Legislative Halls.

Seriously, we think these exceptions and counter exceptions quite uncalled for, and to partake more or less of the nature of an insult to the sex. The question belongs more to the domain of social ethics than to that of politics, pure and simple, and might with perfect safety have been ignored by the Legislature. There is not the slightest probability that for many years to come we shall see women ambitious to distinguish themselves in the political arena, but to proclaim their disability by statute seems to us to be totally uncalled for. Since the property qualification was abolished and religious disabilities removed, the only three persons disqualified from sitting in the British House of Commons are ** an alien, a lunatic, or a woman." Not a flattering category for the last named to be placed in. Prejudices survive long after the foundations on which they have rested have been utterly demolished. Few men whose opinion is worthy of attention will be disposed to maintain that woman, as such, is inferior to man in mental capacity, and yet, practically, we still seek to restrict her exercise of that capacity, still proclaim that her sole mission is " To suckle fools and chronicle small beer." The two years residential qualification was retained, though a considerable number, of whom Mr Stout was one. voted for reducing it to one year. An amendment to reduce the residence in an electoral district from six to three months was also rejected in spite of the appeal of an honorable member (Mr Woolcock), who said he had not resided for six months in any one district, and he had " no house and no property." He asked plaintively how he was to get on the electoral roll ? but the House was stern, and rejected the amendment. The household qualification was reduced from £10 to £5, and an amendment to prevent persons ever convicted of felony or any infamous offence from becoming members of the House was, after some discussion, withdrawn. All the most important parts of the Bill have now been settled, and presumedly it will pass in its present shape. There is no doubt that the Bill will effect a much needed reform, but we are of opinion that the required object could have been attained by a much simpler measure.