VOTES FOR WOMEN.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 212, 27 January 1913, Page 5

VOTES FOR WOMEN.

\ MINISTERS AT VARIANCE. MR. HARCOCRT'S SARCASM. Rv Cable- Pros* Association—Copyright. London, .liuiuary 21. The Speaker'.- warning has increased the probabilily of Sir Edward Grey's amendment being defeated. ( An anti-suffrage petition lias been presented in the House of Commons. The Hon. Alfred Lyttelton, in moving Sir Edward Grey's amendment in com■nittoo. contended that the amendment simply demonstrated Unit the subject w.\~ worthy of discussion. Mr. Lewis Itaivourt. Colonial Secretary, said the introduction of such a gitgantie proposal under the Parliament Act would be a grave blow to that Act. ire did not like the referendum, but A would be the best method. A year agj Mr. Lloyd George declared the Government had no mandate, yet now he was endeavoring to pass the amendment under the Parliament Act. Received 2(i, 5.5 p.m. London, January 2.5. | Mr. Ilarcourt's sarcastic humor at the expense of his colleagues, particularly of Mr. Lloyd George, delighted the House. He twjtted Sir Edward Grey that, with the full control of the Foreign OHiee. he had failed to appoint~wofiion clerks. ambassadors and consuls, who certainly would add gaiety to the nations. Referring to Mr. Lloyd George's advoeaev of the Norwegian amendment, he was surprised that Mr. Lloyd George was willing to enfranchise seven millions but reluctant to enfranchise eleven. What, he asked, was the sin of the remaining four million? Surely it was not a fact , that most of the domestics had not hesi- ! does he fear to take their opinions? - ' jhe asked. He quoted Herbert Spen--1 cer to the effect that the minds Jof men and women were both quantitatively and qualitatively unJ like, and that no amount of culture can ! obliterate the difference. He added that 1 women seldom contested local bodies J elections. They were seldom elected, and { when they were they proved that they were not well qualified even for that measure of public life. Referring to the campaign of violence, he said the suffragettes were mistaking arson for argument. The suffragettes had attempted to burn the children's wing of his home. That was a type of their mental balance. He disliked the referendum, hut it was a possible solution of the difficulty. Tf once the principle of women's suffrage were conceded, he would support adiilt suffrage, which was the only logical course.

Lord Hugh Cecil stated that Mr. Harcourt's speech was the most damaging against the Government he had ever heard. Mr. Jlarcourt's antipathy to the Bill suggested that lie had been "recently spanked, and had never got over the indignity of being bom of woman. Lord Hugh Cecil commented on the fun Ministers must have had at Cabinet meetings latelv.

Mr. Austen Chamberlain insisted that women were physiologically and physically different from men. The House" of Commons were not entitled to make such a momentous change with the mandate they had received. The Conservatives would stultify the argument against the Parliamentary Act if they supported the enfranchisement of women by its aid. The Speaker has given Cabinet a written opinion that if any women suffrage amendments are embodied he will rule that the principles of the Bill are changed and therefore out of order to proceed. Cabinet, after a meeting lasting ninety minutes, failed to decide on a" course of action. It is expected the franchise will be withdrawn on Monday. In is understood the Premier is troubled at bis inability to fulfil his pledge to the suffragettes. Lord Courtney, in a letter to the papers, recalls Disraeli's Bill of 18fi7 and Gladstone's of 1884. when the same question arose. The Speaker then did not definitely object to the Laborites' whip. He emphasises the importance of Monday's sitting, and says that if Sir Edward Grey's amendment is defeated the franchise may be dropped, and the House wi then proceed with the Trades Union Bill.