SHOULD WOMEN VOTE OR DARN STOCKINGS.

Auckland Star, Volume I, Issue 199, 29 August 1870, Page 2

SHOULD WOMEN VOTE OR DARN STOCKINGS.

A discussion took place in the church convention at Dublin on the question of giving woman the power to vote at vestries. The Rev. Mr. Hickey wished to give the vote to any "female head of a family," whereupon Sir William Osborne hoped that his own wife would be excepted, having quite enough to do at home without cantering and trotting off to every diocesan meeting, and to every vestry that"may be held in the parish or the diocese, lhe argumentum ad hominen is very satisfactory (said Sir William), and I put it in this case in this way :—A man goes home after a hard day's work, and asks where is Mrs. A. ? ' Oh, sir," the servant who comes to the door, says, " she has gene to attend a preliminary meeting of ihe Diocesan Synod." (Laughter) " Bui. where are .my daughters?" "Oil, sir, the young ladies have been sitting in the vestry these last three hours." '" Well, I waut my dinner." " You cannot have it, sir ; tie cook is sitting along with your young lj,di s—(renewed laughter)—and mistress desired me to tell you that her hands are so full of new church work, that she thinks you had better order a little bit for yourself or take it at the club." (Laughter.) Everything should be in its right place, and a lady or female head of a iamiiy is much better at home, sewing on my buttons, if you like, darning my stockings, if jou please—^laughter) but not neglecting her everyday wholesome uselul vacation (Rear, hear.) After some discussion, the Key. Dr. Foley said the real secret of the opposition to women's voting was a fear of the clergy over women He submitted that the influence was moral and intellectual, and that the convention should adopt the motion. Ihe motion was lost, however, by 158 to 107 ayes.