Rangitikei Advocate. FRIDAY, AUGUST 9. 1907. SECOND EDITION EDITORIAL NOTES

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXII, Issue 8890, 9 August 1907, Page 2

Rangitikei Advocate. FRIDAY, AUGUST 9. 1907. SECOND EDITION EDITORIAL NOTES

ON Wednesdaj night the House passed a new clause iu the Legislative Council Bill, on the motion of Mr Wilford, which allows women to be elected to the Council. The motion was carried by 37 to 26, the division list being as follows; Ayes: Arnold, Bennett, Carroll, Colvin, Davey, Dillon, Duncan. Ell, Fowlds, Graj, Hanan, Hoke, Hornsby, Izard. Kidd, Lang, Lawvy, Lethbridge, Lewis, McGowan, Macpherson, MoLachlau, Major, Malcolm. -Kgata, Okey, Parata, Poole,

Rutherford, Scddon, Stallworthy, Symes, Tanner, Ward, Wilford, Witty, Wood. Noes; ' Aitkeu, Barber, Barclay, Baume, Bollard, Budno, Field, Fislier, W. Fraser, Graham, Greeaslado, Hall, Hardy, Herries, Hogan, Jennings, T. Mackenzie, Maudcr, Massey, Mills, Poland, Ross, Sidey, Stevens, . Steward, Thomson. Of course, it is ; not likely that the Council will | allow the clause to pass, but certain j members of the House evidently | attach duo weight to the that women are now possessed of tho franchise. The possession of the franchise implies tho right to be elected, and there is no sound reason why, if women have the power to influence an election by their votes, they should not also have all tho privileges, including tho right to represent their followclectors. It is certainly only a question of time when they will possess this right, and we believe the effect of its exercise would be beneficial. Wo should certainly have purer administration and fev, or Bellamy’s and other political scandals, while a, considerable majority of women ' are certainly lucre capable of dealing intelligently wiiii public affairs than arc the professional politicians who gleefully vote themselves larger salaries. As to the Council itself, it is possible that it might be improved by being composed entirely of women, to act as a real chock on the vagaries of tho Lower House, They might assuredly he expected to do better work than the political nonentities and “rejects” who at present draw tho salaries. And as women have equal rights with men on polling day, there is every argument in favour of giving them cither an equal share in representation in both Houses or solo possession of tho revising body.