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Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 5260, 2 July 1888, Page 2

Mb J. Fulton, M.H.R., for Taieri, suggested last week that materials for makiug stays should bo taxed in order to discourage the use of corsets! Mr liilton objects to that portion of a lady's attire ; and so, as a member of Parliament, ho doos not think it beneath the dignity of his position to make a proposition which, if agreed to, would satisfy his little fad. It is nothing to him whether ladies like to wear corsets, it is sufficient for him that he does not admire small waists, and so ho wants to suppress them. Of such are many of our legislators! It is this same Mr Fulton who has succeeded in killing Major Steward's sensible bill for making Licensing Committee elections triennial. Mr Fulton did not wish to kill it, and, perhaps, did not think that tho course he took would havo that effect. But nothing would suit him unless he got his own way ; and what ho wanted was to give women the right to vote at thoso elections. Obstinate men with fads are effectual bars to all progress, because they wantfto jump to a cenclusion instead of leading up to it. Nobody would object in timo to a' measure prohibiting the uso of stays, but people want to bo educated up to an appreciation of the idea that Parliament fulfils its highest duty in interfering in such matters. What between the prohibition of stays, and female franchise Mr Fulton offers a rare example of what manhood suffrage has done for the colony.