BRITISH POLITICS.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXIX, Issue 3759, 12 March 1907, Page 3

BRITISH POLITICS.

The Women’s Suffrage Bill

Killed.

London, March 9

The debate in the House of Commons yesterday on the second reading of the Women’s Suffrage Sill, introduced by Mr W. H.' Dickinson, Liberal member for St. Paucras North, resulted in the measure being “ talked out.” Mr Dickinson explained that the bill was based on the principle of electoral equalisation, marriage being no disqualification. Sir Henry Campbell-Bannerman, Prime Minister, declared that owing to the difference of opinion that was apparent on every bench in the House, it was the Government’s duty to leave the decision of the question in the hands of the House. The idea that a woman was an outlander by predestination was absolute. He supported the Bill, mainly on the ground of expediency. There were many legislative questions on which a woman’s opinion was as valuable as a man’s, if not more so. He was not enamoured of any bill which would enfranchise a small minority of the well-to-do section and not touch in anything like an adequate degree the mass of working women and working men’s wives. The measure before the House was good so far as it went, and the Prime Minister said he would vote for it as a declaration of his conviction that the exclusion of women from politics was neither expedient nor justifiable, and was not politically right. Mr Rowland Whitehead, Liberal member for South-east|Division of Essex, moved the rejection of the bill, which was seconded by Mr Julius Bertram, Liberal representative for North rferts. Mr Philip Snowden, Labour member for Blackburn, said it had been calculated that 82 per cent, of those who would be enfranchised under the bill would belong to the working classes. Sir Francis Powell, Conservative member for Wigan, pointed out that no European State had yet accepted the principle of woman suffrage. Universal suffrage was the ultimate end aimed at, and its attainment would give women the ascendency 'in Great Britain, because they outnumbered the men. Mr David J. Shackleton, Labor member for the Clitheroe Division of Lancashire, declared that he would vote for the second reading, but not for a third if the property qualification was retained. Mr William Redmond supported the bill.

Messrs J. Massie, W. R. Cremer, J. C. Wason, and J. D. Rees (all Liberals) spoke in opposition to measure.

Mr Dickinson thrice demanded the application of the closure, which was refused. Prior to the debate, Mr Samuel T. Kvans, Liberal Member for Mid Glamorganshire, presented a petition signed by 21,000 women opposed to woman suffrage. Many of the members left London in order to avoid voting on the bill.

During the progress of the debate fifty additional constables were put on duty at Westminster. The “ Daily Chronicle ” sa3 - s that women suffrage can only come after being placed before the country as a great measure for constitutional reform.' The “ Westminster Gazette ” advises women to educate the public on the subject.