FRANCHISE BILL.

Press, Volume LXIV, Issue 19363, 16 July 1928, Page 3

FRANCHISE BILL.

DEBATE IN THE LORDS,

"RESOLUTE RESIGNATION."

(FBOJt OTO OWK COBRESPOJfDEHT.)

LONDON, May 30.

Ten men in the House of Commons voted against the second reading of the Franchise Bill. In the House of Lords there were thirty-five' against. The division figures do not convey the heavy reluctance with which the Peers assented to the electorate being inflated by over five million women. In Lord Bertie's resentful phrase, they felt that "the Conservative Party has been bounced." But they had with much nicety to balance the evils which would follow rejection against those which may ensue from passing the Government's measure. »

The best speech in support of the Bill in the Lords was heard from Lord Balfour of Burleigh.

He contended that votes were the corollary of free and universal education, insisted that public opinion was getting younger every day, called his opponents "Ancient Britons," and warned the Lords that such a conflict would be provoked by opposing the Amazons of Sir William JoynsonHicks that when the dust had settled, the Upper House would no longer be discernible.

Such a prognostication had the worst possible effect on Lord Forester, wKo announcing himself appropriately as "a backswooasman," and later with blood at fighting heat, asserted also that he was proud to be called "an Ancient Briton." , "If one hand has been tied behind our backs, we still have power to strike a blow with the .other,"- said Lord Forester, spoiling again to try conclusions with the other House.

Golden Vein of Consistency. The Earl of Birkenhead (Secretary for India) said that h© thought _it was a remarkable tribute to the industry of the Cabinet that only three members were absent from the division on the Bill in the House of Commons, (laughter.). It was suggested that some .members of the' Cabinet were not as enthusiastic in support of the Bill as. others. • "I should think," he continued, "that was probably true. (Laughter.) "I have been a .member of a Cabinet for about 13 years, and I can hardly recall' a measure of first-class importance on which all members of the Cabinet held precisely the same views. .. "Through my own attitude on this question there runs a golden, vein of consistency., I was against tie exten- • sion of the franchise -to- women. -1 am against the extension, and J always shall be against the extension, of the franchise to women, and there is not the slightest inconsistency in my career nor in my standing at this box to-night to recommend this measure,, "It was in the year 1919 that the disaster took place. (Laughter.) If it had not been for the war, in my judgment we should have continued successfully to resist this measure for an indefinite period of time. What happened? In that year, when nearly everybody- went mad (laughter)—the discussion arose as to the extension of the franchise, and I found as Minister in charge of the Bill how gradually but inevitably we descended the pery slope."

Lord Birkenhead's Advice. He narrated how it was first proposed to give votes to soldiers j then it was found the vote to munition workers could not be resisted, and finally that women munition workers must also be included. Only a negligible minority would have voted against these proposals at that time. "In these circumstances, preserving as I did all my old objections and prejudices, was I to leave the Government because I was in a small minority? I spent nearly the whole of my political life in giving wise advice to my fellow countrymen, which they have almost invariably disregarded. (Laughter.) I took the view that, having made a frank explanation to the House of Commons of my position, it was mv duty as Attorney-General to carry out the wishes of the Government." ,'■ ' „ Continuing he said that the argument they had listened to would have been timely and relevant in 1919. but he had not beard a single argument against the Bill that had the slightest value at the present time. The leaders and the organisations of all the political parties were in favour of the Bill, and to throw it out would be to cover the House of Lords with ridicule. (Hear, hear.) •_ , "My recommendation to your ix>raships," he concluded "is to go .into the lobby in favour of this Bill if without enthusiasm, yet in the spmt of resolute resignation." (Laughter.) . The second reading was carried by 114 votes to 35.