AGAINST VOTES FOR WOMEN

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 208, 1 March 1912, Page 5

AGAINST VOTES FOR WOMEN

"A GRAVE POLITICAL MISTAKE." A GREAT DEMONSTRATION. By Cable—Press Association—Copyright. Received 29, II p.m. London, February 29. Ten thousand attended a mass meeting at the Albert Hall in opposition to the granting of women's suffrage. Viscount Peel, Lord St. Aldwyn, Mr. Austen Chamberlain, and many other notables were on the platform. Lord Cromer, who presided, read the Premier's telegram: "I have always held that the granting of the suffrage to the women of Britain would be a grave political mistake." Mr. Joseph Chamberlain telegraphed from Cannes that he entirely approved of the agitation against women's suffrage. Lord Lansdowne sent a letter declaring that the electors should pass judgment on so profoundly disturbing a measure. The Lord Chancellor, in moving a resolution against the granting of the suffrage, said it would be a constitutional outrage if such a change were made without the express sanction of the constituencies. Lord Curzon seconded.

Mr. Louis Harcourt, Secretary for the Colonies, said that, to dilute male electorates with a larger mass of less stable female judgment must rcsul in disaster to the State. The true basis of franchise was manhood, with fTie ultimate sanction of force. The Conciliation' Bill" would always be a force. The resolution was carried with enthusiasm.