WOMEN'S SUFFRAGE

Otago Witness, Issue 2817, 4 March 1908, Page 28

WOMEN'S SUFFRAGE

A BELL INTRODUCED.

SECOND BEADING AGREED TO.

LONDON, February 29. In the House of Commons Mr H. Y. Sangar's bill providing for the enfranchisement of women, and -which is identical with the bill introduced by Mr W. H. Dickinson some time ago, was read a second time by 271 votes to 32. Mr Herbert Glads-tone (Home Secretary), without committing the Government, personally supported the measure. The majority included Sir Edward Grey (Minister of Foreign Affairs), Mr John Morley (Secretary for India), Mr Haidane (Minister of War), Mr John Burns (President of the Ijocal Government Board), Mr Lloyd-George (President of the Board of Trade), Mr Gladstone, Mr Buxton (Postmaster -general), Mr E. R. Cherry (Attorney-general for Ireland), and Mr \V. Runciman (Secretary to the Local Government Board). The minority included Mr Asquith (Chancellor .of tihe Exchequer), Sir W. L. Robson (Attorney-general), Mr S. T.Evans (Solicitor-general), Mr J/ewis Harcourt (First Oommiesioner of Works), and Mr John Sinclair {Secretary for 6cotland). The bill was remitted to a committee of .she whole House. This being considered equivalent to shelving the bill, the suffragietis have resolved to agitate and urge the bringing in of a Government bill to ensure its presage.

The Times, commenting on the bill, say 3 thait when the people talk about women's successful exercise of the franchise in 6ome Australasian and American States and Finland they seem to forget that the problems of the Governments there approximate far more to municipal questions than those with which Britain deals. The suffragist leaders hare not yet, says the paper, demonstrated that any considerable number of women agree with them.