WOMAN SUFFRAGE

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10568, 26 February 1912, Page 5

WOMAN SUFFRAGE

CABLENEWS (United Press Association— By Electric Telegraph—Copyright.)

AND THE REFORM BILL VIEWS OF MR LLOYDCEORCE. (Received Last Night, 5.5 o'clock.) LONDON, February 24. Tho Right Hon. D. Lloyd-iGeorge, speaking at a suffragists' meeting in the Albert Hall, said the Government intended to carry the Reform Bill this year, and would accept the responsibility for a women's suffrage amendment- if it was incorporated therein. He objected to the Referendum on the ground that it was costly, and would undermine the authority of Parliament and frustrate justice: There was much interruption at the meeting from all sides. At first, the Hon. D. Lloyd-George treated the interruptions lightly, but he subsequently gave sharp retorts. His speech at times lesembled a dialogue. The Minister stated that the reason the Government had not-incor-porated women's suffrage in the Reform Bill was that neither of the two great parties were, united on the subject. Three-fourths of the Liberals, including two-thirds of the Cabinet, supported it, whilst three-fourths of the Conservfttiyes opposed it- Therfi never was a time when the nation stood more in need of the special experience and sympathy of womanhood in the government of the affairs of such pressing questions as housing, dear food, education and intemperance. The franchise must be granted on ibroad and democratic lines, stick as that which was in operation in thje Colonies,