OPINION IN THE COUNCIL

Evening Post, Volume XCVI, Issue 137, 6 December 1918, Page 7

OPINION IN THE COUNCIL

When the Legislative .Council Amendment BiE was received by the Council from the House of Representatives this morning with the amendments permitting, women to sifc in Parliament, Sir Francis Bell moved at once to disagree with the amendments,

"What are they?" aaked a member "To permit -women to sit in Pa-rlia' ment," said Sir Francis Bell..

Sir William Hall-Jones thought the Leader should have given some reasons for disagreement. Sir Francis Bell : Because it's rubbish. 'Sir William Hall-Jones failed to see why the House of Commons should be the only Parliament to admit women. Why should the Council disagree with what the House of Representatives chose to do? . If they are a House of Representatives they have the right If they are not a House of Representatives, because of the postponement of the election, they have no right to do anything. Women had earned the right to eit in Parliament by their work in the war. If they had had women representatives they would not have had these "damnable disclosures" about slums. Sir Francis BelL: Could we have talked frankly about the matter with' them? Sir William Hall-Jones' said their noble work in the war and in the epidemic gave women the right to sit with the men in the Legislature. Let them consider the noble work of-such women as the wife of the Prime Minister. Sir Francis 'Bell : The noble women do not desire this. Sir William Hall-Jones said there was no danger in the amendment, for Ministers must be trusted'to nominate only suitable women for the Legislative Council, and foij the House of Representatives unsuitable women would not be elected. It seemed to him they were treating the House of Representatives with contempt. Wei'e they supposed to be a "House of fools or noodles?" "Are we of such superior wisdom that we' decline to allow any women to come and sit with us?" Major Harris : Hear, hear. ■. Sir William Hall-Jones said he would like to see some of the brilliant women outside presenWo hear what Major Harris said. Then they would see which was the better mail. Major Harris : Hear, hear. Sir Francis Bell said the Council must disagree with the amendments, as one of them, evidently made under a misapprehension, made an important alteration in regard-to the electoral districts for the Legislative Council. If members passed the .motion to disagree they could strike out the reference to women legislators when reasons for the disagreement were submitted. Sir William Hall-Jones called for a _ division oa u the f mojipn .ta^diseygje^, „3^e

motion vr&a carried by 27 to 3 (Sir Wit liam Hall-Jones, Hons. G. J. Garland^ and J. T. Paul). (Left sitting.)