IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XLI, Issue 11647, 16 August 1916, Page 5

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.

ELECTIONS BILL INTRODUCED. WOMAN FRANCHISE FORESHADOWED. London, Aug. 14. In the House of Commons Mr As quith introduced the Parliament and Local Elections Bill. He said it was impossible in war circumstances to do more than construct fij-ongh makeshift, , The war had caused the greatest dislocation of population in history, not only as regarding soldiers abroad but war workers at Home. Everyone agreed that a general election at the front was unthinkable. Moreover, the munitionworkers’ claims could not be overlooKed, but these claims brought them face tc face witii women’s claims. He was hound to say he found their representations Hunanswerable. The women were willing to abide by existing conditions, but if new classes were to be eu - franchised for their services to the State it would be impossible to deny women’s claim that they had rendered as effective services as any class. Also they would have a special claim to be heard iu afterwar questions. He bad been a lifelong opponent to women’s suffrage, but he could not deny these claims. Nothing could he more injurious than reopening such complicated questions. The Government proposed to provide for tl e exceptional conditions. The period for qualification would be postponed to the Ist of November, enabling the new register to operate next May. All soldiers, sailors and war workers on the existing register would he placed on the new one. He concluded by saying that at a time when the war had reached a happy and promising stage, requiring absolute concentration, the Government was unanimous that it was impassible to consider the larger questions involved in the revision of the franchise. Sir Edward Carson agreed that a general election at present was impossible, but they ought to have the register ready. An eight months’ oxtension'was over long. The enfranchisement of soldiers and sailors would not have involved greater difficulties than the Government’s proposals of government was ..doing them a grave injustice. Women’s suffrage stood in a different category. He recognised, they had arrived at a critical stage of the war, when they could anticipate happy, developments in the near future and he was anxious to have a register enabling the country to express its views ou the critical after war problems.

AN IRISH COMPLAINT. London, Aug. 15. In the House of Commons, an Irish member complained that Irishmen temporarily resident in England were forced to serve in the army. Mr Hugh Law, Nationalist member for Donegal, declared they bad been arrested in droves and marched through the streets handcuffed. „ Mr Forster said if it could be proved that migratory labourers were improperly taken into the army they would no doubt be given an opportunity for obtaining their discharge..