WOMEN'S BILL LOST.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1402, 30 March 1912, Page 7

WOMEN'S BILL LOST.

NO SUFFRAGE THIS YEAR! MEASURE KILLED BY IRISH VOTE. PREMIER SAYS NO DEMAND FOR IT By Teleffraph-Presj AssitUtlon-OoßyrieM London, March 28. The House of Commons is dobating tho second reading of the Women Suffrago Conciliation Bill which proposes to give tho 'franchise, to all women householders, and is estimated to result in the enfranchisement of a million women. Mr. Harold Baker, Liberal member fori tho Accrington Division of Lancashire, moved the rejection of the measure. (Rec. March 29, 11.25 p.m.) London, March 29. The Conciliation Bill has been rejected, mainly in consequonco of 41 Nationalist mombors voting against it in order to save the week of' Parliamentary time which the Government had undertaken to allow for its consideration. The division was tp follows:— For the BUI ........' 222 ■ Against tho BUI Majority against " For the Bill. The supporters of the Bill included— Mr. '• Lloyd-George (Chancellor of tho Exchequer). Sir Edward Grey (Secretary of State for.'Foreign Affairs). '." Mr. Birrell (Chief Secretary for Ireland). ■ ■ Mr. John Burns (President of the Local Government Board)., • ' \ Mr. Runciman (President of the Local Govornmcnt Board). Mr. Bonar Law (Leader of the Opposition). Mr. Balfour (ox-Leader of the Opposition). Mr. Lyttelton (ex-Unionist Secretary for tho Colonies). Mr. Wyndhiam (ex-Unionist Secretary for Ireland). Mr.-O'Brien (Independent Nationalist M.P. for Cork-City). Mr. ' Healy (Independent Nationalist M.P. for North-East Cork), and The members of the Labour party (12). Against the Bill. ■ \ Among the opponents of tho Bill were the following:— l Mr. Asquith (Prime Minister). Mr. Harcourt (Secretary of State for the Colonies).' ■ ' Mr.' Churchill (First Lord of the Admiralty). Mr. M'lCenna (Home Secretary). Mr. Buxton (President of the Board of Trade). . Mr. Peaso (President of the Board of Education). Mr.' Hobhouse (Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster). Mr. .Austen Chamberlain (ex-TJnionist Chancellor of the Exchequer). - Mr. F. E.' Smith (Unionist M.P. for the Walton Division of Liverpool). Lord Balcarres (Unionist M.P. for .Chorley Lancashire). ■■'> Excitement in the House. The Liberal supporters of the Bill bitterly.resented the action of the Nationalists in kUling "it. ■' i : • '■ ' • < ! . Tho-opponents-of the Bill waved hats and handkerchiefs and shouted, the scene 'recalling the defeat of a Government.

r Tho Premier said the natural distinctions of sex which imposed different functions'on; men and women ought to coniinuo to bo recognised in tho political sphere. There was no evidence that a change was desired.

■ Sir Edward- Grey said it would be unfair,to penalise the largo majority of women, by .withholding the vote from them owing td the militant outbreaks. Indus'trial questions would absorb mora attention ] in: Parliament in the future, and it would be impossible to exolude women from .'• exercising an influence on such questions.

Many women, joined in a demonstration, outsido tho House of Commons on tb.B result of the division becoming known.