ELECTORAL REFORM IN BRITAIN

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2992, 1 February 1917, Page 5

ELECTORAL REFORM IN BRITAIN

THE PROPOSALS

BASIS OF REDISTRIBUTION

(Rcc. January 31, 8.50 p.m.)

London, January 31. The official report of tho spoa'kers at the conference on electoral reform generally confirms tlio forecast already published , . It is oxpected that tho conference will recommend tho suffrage* to any woman on tho local government register, or the wifo of any man thereon, subject to Iho age liniit^— suggested from 30 to 35 yeirs. It is proposed that women graduates will be enfranchised.

The redistribution proposals suggest no change in the number of members. A seventy thousand population will be the standard unit for each member. No county or -horoiigh under fifty thousaud, except tho City of London, will retain separate representation. Tho registers will he revised; half-yearly. The Universities of London, Durham, Manchester, Birmingham, Leeds, Liverpool, Sheffield, Bristol, a.id Wales will he grouped in a dnglc constituency, returning three members. The four Scottish Universities will bo grouped, and will return three members.

At any election where there are more than two candidates for a single-mem-ber constituency the election will b& held on the system of voting known as the alternative vote. Tho report does not deal with Ireland.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. 'A PERSISTENT SUFFRAGETTE. (R-ec. January 31, 8.35 p.m.) London, January 30. A Suffragette who demanded an • interview sat for four hours on tho doorstep of Mr. Lloyd George's house in Downing Street, until Mr. Lloyd George sent a letter declining to receive any deputation until he dealt with tho franchise question generally.