BRITISH ELECTIONS

Dominion, Volume 21, Issue 301, 20 September 1928, Page 11

BRITISH ELECTIONS

INTENSE PARTY RIVALRY THE EXTENDED FRANCHISE WOOING OF WOMEN VOTERS The wooing of the fire, and a quarter million women voters in Britain who will exercise the franchise for the first time at the general elections, is leading to intense rivalry among the parties. (United Press Association.—By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.) (United Service.) (Rec. September 19, 7.25 p.m.) London, September 18. The “Daily Mail” says the wooing of five and a quarter million women voters, who for the first time will be exercising the franchise in 1929, is already leading to intense rivalry. The organisers of all parties are preparing for vigorous activity. Each party chairman—Mr. JJ. C. C. Davidson (Conservative), Mr. A. Henderson (Labourite), and Sir Herbert Samuel (Liberal) —is assisted by women well versed in political wooing. The Conservative administrator of the women’s branch, also the party’s deputy-principal agent, is Miss Marjorie Maxse, a quiet-mannered, plea-sant-faced young and graceful speaker, who has organised a complete canvass of the constituencies. Local organisations will be carried out during the whole summer with a view to securing advance promises of support. Miss Maxse is now planning an intensive political educational campaign. The Conservatives are well satisfied with the results thus far. The Liberals are organising a house-to-house canvass, especially aiming to mobilise women voters, beginning in November and lasting for three months, spending large amounts of the Lloyd George fund in East Anglia, where they are making great efforts to capture seats. The Labourites are anxious owing to shortage of funds, as a result of the Act freeing trades unionists from obligation to contribute to political funds, admittedly halving the revenue from the unions. Nevertheless they claim that the organisation is in good trim, and is progressing greatly in industrial centres, where active shop stewards have secured promises from factory girls to support Labour candidates. COMPILATION OF REGISTER (Britisli Official Wireless.) Rugby, September 18. It is stated that for the purpose of the compilation of the new voters’ ’•'■ ’’ster, which will include women of years, to whom the franchise has re -ently been extended, every householder will be required before the end of the year to fill in a form giving particulars of his household. This return will be compulsory, and failure to make it will entail a penalty of £2O. An interesting feature will be that women will not be required to divulge their age, it will simply be a question of whether a woman is twenty-one or over. THE PRIME MINISTER TO ADDRESS PARTY CONFERENCE (British Official Wireless.) Rugby, September 18. Mr. Baldwin, who has greatly benefited by his holiday at Aix-les-Bains, will be back in London on Sunday night. HeG and Mrs. Baldwin are now in Paris. Mr. Baldwin will remain at Downing Street for a day or two, and will have consultations with members of Cabinet. He will leave on September 26 for Yarmouth, where on the following day he will address a Conservative conference. It is expected he will make a pronouncement on the future programme of the Government.