WOMAN'S SUFFRAGE.

Feilding Star, Volume XII, Issue 154, 23 June 1891, Page 2

WOMAN'S SUFFRAGE.

TO THE KUITOR OP THK STAR. StR, — In ydur issue of Saturday last you expressed a wish that the Bill introduced into the New Zealand Parliament to give the electoral franchise to women, would become law. It appearß to me that public opinion is drifting in that' direction, but do the public know what they are doing ? It is my opinion that very few ever think about the matter at all, and. take for gospel what a few faddistß say. .Why do they want a vote to be given to women ? Have they any grievance to redress ? "• Surely they haye some grievance, imaginary or" otherwise. The principal, in fact the only " argument " I have been able to draw from some persons who are in favor of the said franchise is " Why shouldn't they vote," leaving the argument on one side of the question. If there is any grievance that can be removed by women voting for members of Parliament, it is very trivial. The liquor traffic is one of the principal grievances, but that would not be done away with any sooner, as a good many women like a refresher as .well men". Some would-be champions talk about emancipating women. Such I rot to talk about in these days of freedom when most in en are guided by their wives to a great extent. If they raised this cry some generations ago there - would have been some sense in it. Surely these champions of the fair sex do not look to the other side, of the question ; do they 1 mean to say it will do no harm ? It may , do some good, but the cure is worse than , the iiisease. Suppose a woman has an opinion of her own — which most haye — and her husband is prejudiced against the ' candidate of her choice, and he, being a hot-headed man, tries to force her to vote for his candidate, which she objects to. This would cause no end of trouble and unhappiness in the home, and yet it is called "emancipating the women." In the majority ' of cases, I think everybody will admit, the husband and wife will vote for the same candidate, and nothing will be" gained. There is a howl at present among some politicians for one man one vote, and yet these same men want to give them two or more by letting their wives and daughters vote. There seems to be strong' objections to women occupying seats in Parliament, but if they have a vote'why shouldn't they be allowed to represent a constituency ? If they are fit for one they are fit for the other. I , think women have quite enough to do without troubling about politics, and can be quite as useful if not more so if they abstain from voting, and thus prevent a new social jar which we can well do without. Hoping the Bill will not become law but will meet its death in the Upper House. — I am, &c, ; ( Aorangi.