THE ANTI-WOMEN'S SUFFRAGE PETITION.

Auckland Star, Volume XXIV, Issue 218, 14 September 1893, Page 4

THE ANTI-WOMEN'S SUFFRAGE PETITION.

We have been requested to caution person g with regard to misrepresentations which are, in some instances, being employed bo obtain signatures for the petition now circulating asking the Governor to withhold his assent) to the Women's Franchise Bill. As an example of the tactics employed, we may mention one instance that has _ been broughb under our notice, in which a canvasser asked two youne ladies to sign the petition upon the assurance that it was in favour of the franchise. Fortunately, one of them before signing took the precaution to read the petition, and discovered the fraud practicod upon them. There is no petition in favour of the franchise now circulating, although thousands of signatures may be obtained in a few hours to such a petition, if necessary. The petition againsb the franchise now being actively pushod is a foolish proceeding, and a big tactical blunder on the parb of the party promoting it. The Governor cannot withhold his assenb from a Bill which the New Zealand Parliament has lull power under the constitution to pass, and which has passed through both Houses of the Legislature, unless he is advised to do so by hia Ministers. Ib is perfectly certain that die Cabinet, unless they are resolved upon political suicide, will never offer Buch advice with respect to one of their own Bills. The proposal to refer such a matter to the Secretary of State for the Colonies is a gross insulb •to the people ot New Zealand, and an infringement of their rights of self-governmenb. We do not hesitate to say that the Electoral Bill will, beyond the Bhadow of a doubt, receive the assenb of the Governor within the next few days, probably— as our Parliamentary reporter predicts—by Tueaday next. The late and futile attempt to snatch from women the right which they have won after so prolonged a struggle, can onlyservethe purpose of turning the votesof women who hold moderate views againßt the party who have thuß deliberately courted the hostility of the newly enfranchised BOX.