Franchise for Women.

Feilding Star, Volume XVII, Issue 235, 9 April 1896, Page 2

Franchise for Women.

(Per Press Association.) J Melbourne, April 6. At the annual meeting of the Women's Franchise League Mr Ramsay, in seconding the motion in favour of giving women equal rights with * men, said the marriage rate in Victoria J was decreasing. The last census * showed that 40 per cent, of the women ' of the colony had no husbands, and 20 I per cent, of those 20 years of age and i upwards were earning their own living, 114,000 being returned as bread- f winners. All these were taking part J in the industrial life of the commun- * ity, adding to its wealth, yet they ! were doi ied political rights. IVJr Flynn moved an amendment that the suffrage should not be granted to women, a.s it would not tend to national welfare. Medical experts were of opinion that the franchise would induce physical degeneration ' among women. The ultimate appeal was to physical force, and as women were not constituted to take part in . physical strife they should not be granted political power Dr Bevan said the appeal was not to brute force or the sword, but to in telligence and reason. The physical argument proved too much, as many men were physically incapable of bearing arms, yet they were not disfranchised. They would only secure the ' development of national life when they granted women the franchise. The motion was carried.