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Hokitika Guardian, 18 July 1928, Page 4

“A WOMAN’S ELECTION.” r “lt would hardly he an exaggeration to call the next general election a ‘woman’s election,’ for it will be the first election in which'women will vote on precisely the same terms as men,” writes Mrs Susan Lawrence, M.P., in the ‘‘New. Leader.” “We shall have with us the young wives and . mothers who are fighting the battle of life side by side with their husbands, and who will now go with them to the poll, exercising the full rights of citizens. We shall have with us the young women in industry and trade. Until now women in industry have been very much under-_ represented because their average age‘ is low; their needs with regard to protective legislation have been argued and settled over their heads. They will now be able to speak for themselves. We have, therefore, a great accession of strength. We shall need that extra strength, for the task before us is a great one. Out business is nqt. merely to make the Labour Party a stronger Opposition; it is to make a Government. Tins next fight will he no propaganda fight; it will he a battle for power.”

THE MORAL OF THE GERMAN ELECTIONS. “All sorts of explanations are being offered for the striking change in the attitude of the electorate,” states the “Times” (London). “The Nationalists throw the blame upon abstentions and upon the waste of votes on the ‘splinter parties,’ while the middle parties, more particularly the Democrats, protest that it was their association in the public mind with the Hight-Centro which ruined them. Much also is .made of tlie strong organisations and the energetic electoral campaigns oIT the Social Demociatsi and of the Communists, and made with a good deni of truth. But the simplest explanation seems the most obvious, and the friends of peace belonging to all nations will rejoice to see that it has been promptly accepted and welcomed in Paris. Germany lias voted for European peace and for domestic reforms.”

GERMAN OPINION AT THE BALLOT BOX. “The general course of German foreign policy remains unaffected,” points out the “Manchester Guardian.” “Nor will there be any change in the form of government. Republicanism and democracy are strong in the Reich. The monarchy has been mentioned now and then in the election campaign, hilt for the sake of sentiment only. Tbe monarclij catches no votes. Nor is there any real movement against constitutional government. The German people do not take kindly to dictatorships. International diplomacy need show little concern for this latest balloting. But for the future of political freedom in Germany, and therefore in Europe, and for the future of international Socialism, the defeat of the German Nationalist Party and the victory of the Socialist Party are of profound significance.”

THE LAWYER’S FEES. “ It is a trite saying that justice delayed is justice l denied. W hat then ato the ’remedies? No litigant lias cause to complain of the cost if he will insist on having the most expensive counsel. Luxuries must be paid for, and exceedingly competent counsel can he briefed for a moderate fee. It is time, however, to consider wlictliei or not some radical change cannot ho made in the whole system of the taxation of costs. At present a solicitor has to make his hill out item by item, with the result that on the scale allowed some items are over-valued while others, especially the brain-work, is under-valued. It is not’ surprising, therefore, that in order adequately to remunerate themselves many solicitors have got into the habit oT doing an excessive amount of the over-valued work, such ns writing short letters.” “Yorkshire Post.”