WOMEN'S SUFFRAGE.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 829, 30 May 1910, Page 7

WOMEN'S SUFFRAGE.

PROPOSED LEGISLATION

A CONCILIATION COMMITTEE'S PROPOSAL.

By Telegraph—Press Aosociatlon—Copyrlsht (Rec. -May 29, 5 p.m.) London, May 23. A Conciliation Committee, representing all parties in the ldouso of Commons, has prepared a Bill supported by both the front aw! back benches enacting women's Parliamentary suffrage on the basis of the existing Local Government Board register.

WHEN WOMEN CAN VOTE.

Tho Women's Local Government Society gives these particulars as to when women can vote IV: municipal matters. There are 005,906 women voters qualified to vote for County Councils in England and Wales, 205,862 qualified to vote for County Borough Councils, ami for non-County Borough Councils. Wtimon who are qualified can \ot© in one or more of the following elections: In England und Wales (not including London) for the County Council, the Town Council, the Urban Distriot Council, the Rural Parish Council, the Board ot Guardians, th>> Parish Council. In London, for (not including the City) the' County Council, the Borough Council, the Board of Guardians. 11l the Citv, for the County Council, the Board of Guardians. A woman claiming to be registered must be qualified as occupier, either as owner or tenant. . Every person is an occupier who occupies a dwelling-house, or part of. a house as a separate dwelling (even only one room), provided the landlord does not, as landlord, reside in the house-tins qualification is irrespective of the.amount of tho rent. . . Also, bv "the Devonport (November 16, 1905, Kent v. littall), tlie occupier of an unfurnished room over which the landlord has no control, even if the landlord does reside in the house, is qualified to bo put on the register, whatever tho rent ot tho room j but it is absolutely essential to provo that the landlord luis no control. t Every person is an occupier wlio pies land or business premises of tho clear yearly value of not less than AIU, and who resides within the county or within fifteen miles of its boundary; or, in the'case of the Municipal Borough, within seven miles. Persons sharing the same dwelling, or the same land or business premises, may claim as ioint-oeenpiers, provided the tenancy is joint and that the clear yearlj* value, when divided, amounts to £10 for each person claiming. There is, however, no such limit to the clear yearly value in the case of a person claiming to be registered as a burgess for the election of a Town Council.

Husband and wife cannot claim as joint-occupiers, but, by the Local Government Act, 1891, Section 13, they may both be registered, provided they are not qualified in respect of the same property. Such registration will entitle married women to vote ill the election of District Councils, Rural and Urban, Parish Councils, Boards of Guardians, London Borough Councils, and the London County Council.