PARLIAMNT,

Waikato Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 2982, 25 August 1891, Page 2

PARLIAMNT,

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

The debate on the Pav'ruont of Members Hill wni vigorously 'Abated on Friday night ami into tho small Iwnrs on Saturday. Sir Bryce's amendment, however, lost by 3H to -I. and the second reading was carried by 8!J to 22. The following is the division list, fur Bryce's amendment ('2l)Brvco, Buchanan, Duthie. Fergus, Hull, Harkness, McArthur, T. Mackenzie, MeCuire. Meredit.li, .Mills, Moore, Newman, Rhodes, Richardson, Rollestnn, Saunders, Swan, Tanner, R. Thompson, 'J'. Thompson, J. W. Thomson. Valentine, Wright. Against, the amendment (IW) I'allance, IJ'iiuk, Cadman, Cnrncross, Carroll. Dawson, Duni'an, Karnshaw, Vish, Fisher, Grey, t fulness, Hall-Jones, Hamlin, Hogg, Houston, W. Hntchison, Joyce, Kapa, J. Kelly, W. Kolly, Mackintosh, C. H. Mills, I'arata, Perceval, I'inlcerton, Rees, R. Reeves, W. P. Reeves, Seddon, Shera, W. C. Smith, Taylor.

for tho amendment: —Jjawry, Mitchelson, M. >7. S. Mackenzie, Wilson, G. Hutchison, Russell. AgainstE. M Smith, Ward, J. McKenzie, O'Conor, McDonald, Fraser. Mr (}. Hutchison explained that ho had paired with Mr McDonald, but having inadvcrdently remained in the Chamber he had, according to usage, recorded his vote in the direction in which Mr McDonald would have voted. On the question being put that tho Bill be committed oil Tuesday, Mr Fergus moved that the Bill be committed that day three months. Lost on the voices. Tho Houso rose at 1.10 a.m. MONDAY. Tho House met at 2.30 p.m. Sir John Hall, in moving the second reading of the Female Franchise Bill, said lie thought it was a matter fur regret that it had been arranged to take Shis rjnestton in a separate Bill, as it would have been inoio appropriate to have a clau.su extending the franchise to women embodied in the Klectoral Bill, Ho did not think any new arguments in favour of tho Bill were necessary, for the old arguments had now become red-hot. The very principle of the dill, and an unanswerable argument in its favour, was that every human being who was bound by laws, and whose rights were so vitally concerned, had a right tc some share in making those laws. The Legislature had already allowed women who paid tates and taxes to have votes in local elections, and ho felt sure that not a single instance could bo quoted in which this privilege had been exercised in an objectionable manner. As to the argument that women would be dictated to by thoir husbands, and that it would thus give the husband two votes, he asked whether there was anything wrong in that? To his mind, such an argument was a recommendation in favour of the Bill. He thought it desirablo that in the House all interests and all phases of opinion should be represented, yet up to tho present time women had not had any representation. .Surely women should havo a voice in the education question and that of tho liquor traffic, So far from degrading women, as had been represented, ho thought it would, on the contrary, havo an excellent effect on a woman's character if she were allowed a wider sphero than she now possessed, In recording their votes women would not be easily misled, and their support would be given to men of known integrity and uprightness of character m preference to the professional class of politicians. Plenty of proof was available that women did desire the franchise and he firmly believed they would r.\eroi'su it in a right and prudent manner. Ho asked the Houso not to ho led astray by tho frivolous excuse—tho cry of a few politicians whose doom would bo sealed by women's v.ites—that the'timo was inopportune for making this great change. Referring to Mr Fish's amendment that women should also be entitled to have seats in the Houso ho said he c.mld not agreo with that as woman did not desire such concessions. He concluded by saying the struggle for this groat reform had been of long duration buc lie believed tho champions of the cause of women's suffrage were now about to achieve their desires mid he folt the extension of the franchise to women would be a lasting blessing to the people of New Zealand.

Mr Pinkerton seconded the motion. He said it had been urged that women had not asked for this change but he thought it would bo disgraceful to the House if they waited for the women of the colony to ask for a privilege to which they were justly entitled.

Mr Fish regretted that the lion, gentlemen who advocated this change could not give any credit to those who opposed it. His opinion was that the supporters of this measure were fanatics, as one section wanted local option, another section Bible reading in schools, and so nn. The House did not represent the country on this question, and lie wits convinced that if those who were crying out for woman's franchise went to the country the good sense of the men of the colony would take cure that those members would not get back to the House. Again, if women were brought into contact with politics, it would destroy that innocence which was their greatest charm. When the Bill was in committee he intended to move amendments to the elfect that women should be allowed to sit in the House ; that tho Bill should not come into operation until the Ist January, 180! ; that the provisions of the Bill should not, be given elfect to until a poll was taken of persons of both sexes of 21 years and upwards, and then not unless the majority declared in favour of it. If these amendments were lost, he should move that no woman under 35 years of age be allowed to vote. The debate was interrupted by the 5.30 p.m. adjournment. The House resumed at 7.30 p.m. Mr Fergus said the arguments put forward by Mr Fish had induced him to vote for this Bill, although he had previously voted against it. Mr Maunders said, no doubt, Mr Fish's speech would convert many other members in favour of the Bill as well as Mr Fergus. The Bpeech made by Mr Fish had also shown the necessity for some alteration in their mode of business to prevent one lion, gentleman monopolising t'ie time of the Hiiuie as ho had done. The member for Dunedin had spoken of this question as being advocited by faddists, such as Cobden, Willmrforce, John Bright, and other eminent men. He strongly advocated granting the frauchiso to women. Mr li ees felt it would redound to the credit of the whole colony if the House granted to women the fullest franchise, and this Bill should be carried and enrolled on khe statute book.

Mr Buick contended that women wore as much entitled to vote for the election of members of Parliament as men, and ho should support the Dill. Mr Swan opposed the Bill, saying that the present House c mid not express a fair opinion on it as many members wero returned by miserable majorities. At the last election thoso who opposed the Bill were accused of being a publican's ring, but he scouted the idea as far as he was concerned. He felt convinced that the agitation for women's franchise had been got up by prohibitionists, but those who wished to deal with tho liquor traffic should go straight to tho point and not attempt to gain their end by a side wind as in tho present Bill. Mr Mackintosh said it proved that men were only half civilised for having so long refused tho women the franchise.

Mr Taylor remarked if the Premier was sincere in his support of this Bill ho should carry it to a logical conclusion, and allow women to stand for seats in the House.

Mr C. H. Mills thought they must all ask that this Bill provide some relief to those who now required it. Mr Fisher had always opposed woman's franchise, and ho should do so on tho present occasion, for ho believed the advocates of this change did not anticipate the evils and domestic misery that would result from it. The ineasuro was introduced now by those who had failed to pass the Bible-in-Schools Bi'l, and he thought they should honestly admit this. Mr O'Conor's opinion was tjiat the franchisement of women m connection with municipal matters had puritiod local elections.

Air Earnslmv supported the Bill. Referring to Mr Fish's opposition to the measure, he said that the hon. gentleman know very well tli.it if the Hill became law, tho " Hand-writing would be on the wall " for him, at any rate. That was the secret of his strong opposition to the Bill. Messrs W. Hutchison, Maedonald and Harkness spoke in support of the L'ill, and MrParata opposed it.