WOMAN SUFFRAGE.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2415, 22 October 1892, Page 2

WOMAN SUFFRAGE.

Much as we favor temperance, we are not at all sorry at the slap in the face the Temperance party got last Thursday evening in Christchurch. Wherever the Temperance party have had the slightest opportunity they have done their best to damage the present Government. Mr Glover went several times through the colony interfering in burning political questions, and the Rev. Mr Walker is following in his footsteps. The Hon. Mr Ballanca, in conjunction with someone else, guaranteed an overdraft, or back the bill—or something like that—of a Wanganui publican about 12 months ago, and ever since the hirelings of the Temperance party have been painting him as a terrible monster from end to end of the colony. Under the cloak of female franchise they are now trying to damage the Government. Last Thursday evening in Christchurch they held an indignation meeting, to condemn of the action of the Government in not accepting the amendments of th? Legislative Council in the Electoral Bill, but they got a lesson which we trust will do them good, Mr Saunders amj Sir John Hall condemned the Government to

, . , content, and the latter their hear,... '-♦toti that eifact, proposed a resoiu. q^tifybut an amendment was earn, ■ G

ing the rejection of the Bill. To a further resolution blaming the members who sided with the Government an amendment was carried asserting that nothing would justify the Government in endangering the secrecy of the ballot. The Rev. Mr Isitt was not allowed to speak, except amidst great interruption, and the supporters of the Government carried everything before them. We have frequently warned the Temperance people that their violence would alienate sympathy from them, and they will find that our ad/ice is worth having yet. They are over-inflated with some successes which they have scored, and they think they are actual masters of the situation. There . s not the slightest doubt but they are very substantially supported, but not so strongly that they can quarrel with any of their supporters, and this is exactly what they have been doing. The ultimate result of this will be that they will weaken their own ranks by disgusting some of their supporters, No true supporter of the present Government will stand by and hear the Legislative Council lauded up to the skies and the Government condemned. The Government passed the measure, the Legislative Council loaded it with restrictions which would destroy the secrecy of the ballot, and yet the Council is praised while the Government is condemned. Wo warn the Temperance party that if they ever get anything it will be from the Liberal party, and that the stronger it is the better their chance. The

Conservative party have too much money invested in the liquor traffic, and they will never do anything to help Temperance.