WOMEN'S RIGHTS.

Taranaki Daily News, 18 October 1919, Page 4

WOMEN'S RIGHTS.

-LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL &SAMJIS%

THE HOUSE SUBMITS. A By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. In the House yesterday afternoon, tlia Speaker read a report of the managers at the conference with the Legislative Council on the subject, of the Women's Parliamentary Rights Bill, stating that tiic managers had failed to come to an. agreement on the point at issue. Mr Massey said he did not propose to ask for another conference. He did not think that would be of any use, liecause the representatives of the Council were adamant on the point, and there was not the slightest chance of shifting them They had now reached a position when they had to choose between accepting the amendment made by the Council or losing the Bill. He intended to ask the House to agree to the amendment. He might say he had agreed with his colleague in another place to bring in a Bill replacing the clause which the Council had struck out, thus giving the Council the opportunity of affirming the principle which had been passed by the Honw. Mr Ngata: "Then we give in on the question of privilege."

Mr Massey said he did not proposo to discuss the question of privilege or the ruling of the Speaker. He did not see what the House could do, because he felt sure if the House had been in the same position it would have stood by its Speaker. He, therefore, moved that the amendment made by the Council be agreed with. Sir Joseph Ward supported the motion. He thought that the most sensible course to pursue. He was glad to know another Bill was being introduced into the Council, as he was anxious that women should have full political rights. He trusted the Council would fall in with the agreement. Mr Mass£r said there was no agreement with the, Council. It was merely an arrangement between himself and his colleague. Mr McComb* and Dr. Newman, managers with the Premier at the conference, approved of the course he was asking the House to adopt. Mr Hanan said the position had been reduced by the Council to one of a comic opera, It showed that our democracy was a fraud and pretence—a mere name. He hoped the people, at the next election, would deliver a smashing Mow to at least on e evil under which our legislature was at present laboring. Mr Downie Stewart said the House, having given expression to lis view, it was the duty ofthe Government to see that view was given effect to. Mr Holland said the LeW Party would approve the Premier's motion and leave the other aspect to be dealt with at a later date. It was of more importance to the Labor Party that women should have a right to sit in the House than in the Council. The motion was agreed to.