IMPERIAL POLITICS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 81, 14 July 1910, Page 5

IMPERIAL POLITICS.

THE SUFFRAGE BILL. MAD A SECOND TIME. By Cable—Press Association.-Gopyriglit Received July 13, 11.10 p.m. London, July 13. In the House of Commons, Mr. .Balfour . supported the extension of the suffrage because democracy meant Government by consent, which v > absent •when the important section >.. women complained of disability and exclusion from franchise. Mr. Lloyd-George condemned the particular form of franchise proposed. Mr. Austen Chamberlain strongly opposed the female franchise. A motion to send the Bill to a grand eommittee instead of to a committee of the whole House was rejected by 320 / to 175.

The Times, in its political notes, says the promoters of the Bill recognised that the debate had gone very much against them. So damaging was the effect of some of the speeches from both the front benches against the Bill, that some supporters who voted in favor of it, subsequently characterised it privately as an abominable Bill. The Daily News admits there are defects in the Bill, but contends, like the Chronicle, that the debate has greatly advanced the. suffrage cause. Received July 14, 12.30 a.m. London, July 13. Mr. Shackletoii's Bill was read a second time by 299 to 190. Mr. Winston Churchill denounced the Bill as anti-Democratic. Mr. Asquith urged the maintenance of the Bistinction of sex lying at the root of Shg Parliamentary system.