ELECTORAL REFORM.

Taranaki Daily News, 1 February 1917, Page 5

ELECTORAL REFORM.

REPORT OF THE SPEAKERS' CONFERENCE. WOMEN SUFFRAGE. ALTERNATIVE VOTE SYSTEM. Received Jan. 31, 8.55 p.m. London, Jan, 31. The official report of the Speak?™' Conference on electoral reform genevn'iy con-firms the forecast already cabled, to the effect that the Conference m-um-mends granting. the suffrage to any woman on the local Government register, or to the wife of any man thereon subject to an age-limit, which is suggested at 30 or 35 years. It is proposed that woman graduates be giv-jn » the franchise. The redistribution proposals suggest > no change in the number of members Seventy thousand is the population standard unit for each member. .No county or borough with a population of under 50,00(1, except the City of London, will retain separate representation. The registers will be revised half-yearly. The Universities of London, Durham, Manchester. Birmingham, Leeds, Liverpool, Sheffield, Bristol, and Wales will be grouped as a single constituency, returning three members. The foiir Scottish Universities will be grouped, and return three members. Any election where there are more than two candidates to elect a single member for the constituency will be held on the system of voting known as the alternative vote. ' The report does not deal with Ire-1 land. IMPERIAL UNIT?. CANADA THE CRUX OF SITUATION. London, Jnn. 30. The Quarterly Review contains three contributed articles giving the South African. Australian and New Zealand tiewpoint on Imperial unity. The Australian writer says that it is unlikely that Australia will accept n situation committing her to a policy in which her people ha? no voice, yet every sentiment repels the notion of separation. The South African writer dwells on the increasing sentiment in South Africa which is against any reconstruction that will reduce tilt existing self-govern-in!:- rights. The New Zealand writer finds marked differences of opinion as to the methods of bringing about closer union. Some consider that, although the present cooperation has stood the strain of the, present crisis, it in doubtful whether it will suffice in the future. t Nearly all agree that Canada is the crux of the situation, and speculate about the position when Canadas poj:„ lation exceeds that of the Motherland. Most of those who favor a change are chary of committing themselves to details. Very few New Zenlanders .vtuld agree to surrender their present autonaniy for more or less nominal representation on an Empire Council, feaung the silken ties would be /-oplaced by galling fetters. There is a consensus of opinion among New Zealand jursts against any proposal to substitute a written constitution for the present unwritten one. Changes should not be adopted light-heartedly. More frequent meetings of the imperial Conference will remove sources of irritation like the double income-tax. This, together with the interchange of army and navy officers and cheapened cables, would'greatly help the unifying process. PROPOSED EXCHANGE OF TEACHERS. "*' , (Times Service.)' London, Jan. 30. Mr. H. A. L. Fisher, Minister of Education, speaking in London, advocated an exchange of teachers between the Universities of Britain and the Dominions. The Education Board would gladly co-operate in any scheme to attract students from the Dominions and America for advanced courses in English Universities generally CLERGY OFFERING TO ENLIST. London, Jan. 30. The. Bishops have refused permission to clergymen to enlist in the army on legal grounds. Many clergymen arc now offering themselves under the national service scheme, and the Bishop of Salisbury is strongly, encouraging them. INCREASED RESTRICTIONS OX PASSPORTS. Received Jan. 31, 8.55 p.m. London, Jan, 31. Further passport restrictions, consequent upon the introduction of National Service, include the abolishing of permits to assisted domestic servants nominated as emigrants to the Dominions, and to intending male emigrants born 1 in 1900 or previously. PROTECTING MUNITION WORKERS. Received Jan. 31, 8.40 p.m. London, Jan. 30. With a view to minimising risks, the Government has urgently ordered gloves for munition workers A PERSISTENT SUFFRAGETTE. Received Jan. 31, 5.35 p.m. London, Jan. 30. A suffragette, who was- demanding an interview, sat for four hours on the step of Mr. Lloyd George's house in Downing Street, until Mr. Lloyd George sent a; letter, declining to receive a deputation until the Government was dealing with the franchise generally. LORD CROMER'S DEATH. ijßeuter Service.) London, Jan. 30. Lord Cromer had been ill for some time, and Imd been unable latterly to preside at the Dardanelles Commission. H? died.is the result of a stroke late