WOMAN SUFFRAGE.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1349, 29 January 1912, Page 5

WOMAN SUFFRAGE.

LADY GLASGOW'S VIEWS

By TelecriDli— Press ABBoefalidn-OoDyrista)

London, January 27. Mrs. W. P.' Reeves, in a letter to "The Times," combats Lady Glasgow's statements, published in "The- Times," that women's suffrage in New Zealand was in many ways harmful, and had not lielpcd to solve social or other questions, and the women's franchise in Great Britain would be infinitely more disastrous than in New Zealand. There was a majority in Great Britain, like there was in New Zealand, who did not want the vote. WILL MAKE HIS LIFE MISERABLE. (B-ec. January 28, 5.5 p.m.) London, January 27. A. suffrage deputation interviewed Mr. L. Harcourt, Secretary for Stato for the Colonies, at Waterfoot, in Lancashire, and stated that they were ,dissatisfied with his opposition to womeu'B franchise, and promised to make his life miserable. MB. ASQUITII'S DOUBLE ROLE. Jir. Asqnith told an anti-sufl'rafro deputation on December 14 that he would lake time to consider whether he will, as an individual, not as ,I'rimo Minister, take the field against votes for women. Mr. Lloyd-Cieoigo and Sir Edward (jlrcy have promised to campaign for tho other side. Tho deputation was introduced by Lord Curzon (in (ho absence of Lord Cr'omer), who said that there wns the diuigfer this year of the Commons amending the Government Reform Bill by adding: 1. 1,000,000 women voters (Conciliation Bill), or 2. 5,000,000 women voters (Adult Suffrage. The latter would make the electorate over 15,000,000. Under tb.o Parliament Act such a scheme might automatically become law in throe sessions though the Lords rejectcd'it. Yet it would not be a Government Bill. Lord Curzon advocated a special poll of tho people. '

Mts. Humphry Ward, Sir Charles Henry, lf.l\ (Liberal), who said a. larpo number of Liberals wort determined aniiSnfFragrists, and Miss Violet Markham also spoke. Mr. As.qiiith paid he had never heard «, case, strong in itself, presented with moro sound sense and loss superfluous rhetoric. On Hie one hand, as an individual, ho was in entire agreement with them th.it to grant flic political franchise to women in this country would bs a. political mistake 6f n very disastrous kind. ("Heat, hear.") Ever since ho entered, political life he had held Ihoxo convictions, and he had seen nothing in the arguments and other Manifestations of (heir opponents— (laughter)—to induce him in (ho least degree to modify them. So far they were in harmony wilh ono another. On the other hand ho was for the time being , the head of the Government, iii which a considerable majority of his colleagues—he mip'it say»thal without violating any obligations to Cabinet secrecy—were of a. different opinion, and. the Government in those circumstances announced the policy which was (he result of their combined deliberations awl by jvliich it was the duty of all of them, and himwlf not Hie loa-st. loyally to abide. That was the position so far as lie personally was concerned.