WOMEN VOTERS IN BRITAIN

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3118, 23 June 1917, Page 10

WOMEN VOTERS IN BRITAIN

BILL IN PARLIAMENT PRINCIPLE ADOPTED ■ London, June 21. In the House of Commons an amendment was moved removing the ago limit of thirty years for women voters, in order to . discuss the whole question of which classes of women ought to be granted'tho franchise. The opponents of woman suffrage generally Supported the amendment.

Sir George Cavo (Home Sccrotarv) said the Government considered that it must take a definite line, and appealed to tue House to reject tho amendment, otherwise the Government would bo obliged to reconsider the whole position. ihe amendment was negatived bv 201 votes to 25. '

Sir George Cave opposed an amendment conferring the local -government vote on women whoso husbands already possess a vote. Hβ said this involved a dra3tic change, adding five million voters. The Speaker's Conference specially recommended that husband and wife should not be enfranchised in respect to the same property. Supporters of tho amendment declared that women were chiefly coucorned in municipal affairs. The amendment would benefit the working women. Tho amendment was withdrawn. Mr. E. Hunt. (Unionist) charged the Government with a breach of tho political truca in introducing the nue-tion of women's suffrage. The clause embodying womtu's suffrage in the Bill was carried by 214 votes to l<.

Sir George Cave stated that soldiers and sailors would be given the vote whether at homo or abroad. Soldiers fromtho Dominions would be qualified to vote after sis months' residence.—Aus.-N Z Cable Assn. AGE QUALIFICATION "ADOPTED. - _ London, June 21. The House of Commons, by 201 votes TO 20, agreed to thirty as the age of qualification for women voters.—Keuter. THE WOMEN'S VOTE IN CANADA DEBATE ADJOUENiED. m , , • Ottawa, June n. The women's suffrage debate has been adjourned.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn