WOMEN'S SUFFRAGE

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10596, 30 March 1912, Page 5

WOMEN'S SUFFRAGE

!CABLE NEWS

(United Press Association—By Men> trie Telegraph—Copyright.)

CONCILIATION BILL DEFEATED BY MAJORITY OF FOURTEEN. (Received Last Night, 11.2-5 o'clock.) LONDON, Man* 29. The second reading of the Conciliation, Bill, whinh was intended to. confer a limited franchise on women, was defeated in tho House of Commons. The voting was as follows: For tlie Bill 203 Against 222 Majority againyt 1-4 Forty-one of the Nationalist Party voted agains the Bill, in order to save the Government a week's Parliamentary time. The Labour Party voted , for the measure, together . with the Right Hons. Lloyd-£ieorge, Birrell, Burns, and Runoima-n, and Messrs Bonar Law, Balfour, Lyttelton,. Wyndham, O'Brien and Healey. Among those who .opposed tlnVrßiU were the Right lions. L. Harcourt, HobJiou.se, McKcr.na, Buxton, Winston Oh urohilJ, and Messrs 'GKamiberlain, Smith, Balcarres and Pease. Tlie Liberal supporters of. the Bill, bitterly resent the - Nationalists' action.

The opponents r.f the Bill waved their hats, hands and handkerchiefs, and shouted lustily, the scene resembling that at the defeat of a Government. The - Premier said the natural distinction of sex, which was different in the functions of men and women, ought to ointinue to be recognised in ihe political sphere. There was no evidence that a- change was desired. Sir. Edward Grey said it was unfair to'penalise a large majority of the women by withholding them a vote, owing to the militant oubreaks. Industrial questions would absorb more and more the attention of Pa.rlia<ment ,and it was impossible to exclude women from exercising an influence on' such questions. Many women were demonstrating outside the House of Commons when th- division was taken. ' A great meeting was in the Albert Hall, where Mr and Mrs Pethdek Laurence were accorded a rapturous reception. A sum of £10,500 was collected, including Ave sums of £IOOO.