VOTES FOR HUMAN SERVICE

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2851, 16 August 1916, Page 5

VOTES FOR HUMAN SERVICE

ELECTORAL QUESTIONS IN BRITAIN iustralmn-New Zealand Cable Association. (Rcc. August 15, 5.5 p.m.) London, August 15. In the House of Commons Mr. As-* quith (the Prime Minister), introducing tho Parliament and Local Elections i'ill, said that it would he impossible in these war circumstances to moro than construct a rough makeshift. The war had caused the greatest dislocation, of the population in history, not only, regarding soldiers abroad, but with, the war workers at. Home. Everyone was ■ agreed that a general election at the front would be unthinkable. Moreover, the munition workers' claims could not be overlooked, but these claims'broughb them faco to face - with the women's claims. He felt bound to say that ho found' their representations unanswer- , able. The women were willing to abide I by existing conditions, but if new classes wero enfranchised for services to the Stato it would bo impossible to deny the women's claim that thoy had rendered as effeotfvo services as any class. Also, they would have a special claim to be heard in after-war questions. He had bcon a life-long opponent of women's suffrage, but he could not deny" these claims; ■. Nothing could be more injurious than reopening such, complicated questions. Tho Government proposed to provide for ' exceptional conditions, 'ills period of qualification would be postponed to November 1, enabling tho new electoral register to operate next May. All soldiers, sailors, and war workers on the exist-' ing register would. be placed on the now register. Mr. Asquitli concluded that at this time, when the war had reached a happy and promising stage, requiring our absolute concentration, the Government was unanimous in the opinion that it would be impossible to consider the larger questions involved in tho revision of the franchise.

Sir Edward Carson agreed that a. general election at present was impossible, but they ought to have the register ready. An eight months' extenmon - of tho present Parliament was overlong. _Tho enfranchisement of soldiers and sailors did not involve greater difficulties than tho Government's proposals. Tlie Government was doing them a grave injustice. Women's suffrago stood in a different category. Ha recognised that they had arrived aii a, critical stago of' tho war, when they could anticipate liappy developments in the near future. He.was anxious to have a register which would enable the countiy to express its viows upon critical after-war problems.