WOMEN IN PARLIAMENT.

Taranaki Daily News, 9 December 1918, Page 8

WOMEN IN PARLIAMENT.

A MOTION RESCINDED. ':j ":l (By Wire—Own Correspondent.)' Wellington, 'Deo. 77. Tlio question of 1 " admitting women to Parliament was before t'nc Home again to-nigh'c. The Prime Minister said that the Legislative Council liad disapproved of the amendment inserted by the House in the Legislative Council Amendment Bill admitting women to Parliament. He had intended originally to move that the House should appoint managers, .but after consideration he had decided to ask the House not to insist upon its amendment. Tile manner in which tte> amendment was moved was irregular and unconstitutional and a inosi important question of policy was involved. Mr. Witty: It. lias been done in England. Mr. 'Massey: For women over 31 years of age- lam prepared to adopt' it iliere, liut if we are going to admit women to Parliament a Bill should lie brought ! down in a proper manner. I intend to 'see that the House has an opportunity to re-consider this subject next session, added Massey. There may bo differences of opinion on the subject, even in the Cabinet, but I think I am wifTiTn my rights in saying that members will bo given an opportunity to consider tliis question next session, if I am here. Mr. Parr: Will you bring down the Bill? Mr. Massey: I would not like to go the length of saying that. It could be done either by resolution or by Bill. If the resolution was carried the Bill would follow. Members will have an opportunity as far as I am concerned to consider'the question. I ask the House in the meantime not to insist upon this amendment. Sir Joseph "Ward said he i'elt. that the women ought to bo admitted to Parliament and 'he had 30 on other occasions, but the chance should be made in the proper way. The events of the last four I tears had changed many ideas, and it would afford him great pleasure to see some reasonable women of tho right type in the Legislature. ' Mr. McCombs, the mover of the amendment, protested hotly. He considered the decision of tho House should be upheld. He accused the Government of wishing to win popularity by appearing next /ear as tho author of the reform that had already been approved by the House. Mr Massey sa'i'd that members had come to him stating that they had not understood the full eflect of the amendment There was no further discussion, and the Prime motion that the House should not insist _on its amendment was carried by 20 votes to IS,