THE WOMAN'S FRANCHISE BILL.

Evening Star, Issue 8614, 7 September 1891, Page 4

THE WOMAN'S FRANCHISE BILL.

TO THE EDITOR. Sib,—l was astonished to see one name at least out cf the three who had sent a telegram to Mr Fish stating " that people approve of the firm stand he (Mr Fish) had taken," and that " Mr Pinkerton's funeral was ordered." Of course, owners of hotels and those interested in them causes no surprise. Mr Fish stated that he had been misunderstood. Not a bit of it, Mr Fish, you are better understood now than ever you were before, and so you will find at the next election, I, for one, am very glad I did not vote for him, and I am sorry that he should be returned, especially when I think of the charges which have been made against bim, and which have never been answeied. It does not say much for the men who oppose the right of women having the power of giving a vote for the returning of members who have to make laws for their sons and daughters. Those having "wobbling"careers may well tremble at the women having a voice in the selection of our M.H.R.B. I sincerely hope that the Upper House will pass this Bill, dropping the clause added by Mr Carncross, who will no doubt have cause to regret his action at the next election. Not only do the women want a vote, but I believe that five-sixths of the men would be glad to see them get the privilege.—l am, etc., Justice. Dunedio, September 5. TO THE EDITOR. Sir,—ln spite of all that -has or can be said to the contrary, women have proved beyond doubt that they do want the franchise, and that it is their right to vote, whether they get their rights or not. Not all her opponents have been able to show one just cause why she should not have the same voting power as man. There are women it this City getting their own and their families' living, and managing very large concerns, independent of men—l need only name two, the Coffee Palace and the Leviathan Hotel, although there are many more—and it is a shame that such women should have no privileges beyond getting their own living when there are bo many things that must be of great interest to them. The strongest argument raised against women has been wet weather; as though she were a pillar of salt aud would melt. And then the old plea of home duties are cast in her teeth, as if there are not thousands of true women to be got to help one another in every time of need —women who have no home or home dutieß of their own to attend to. Then we are told we would be contaminated and insulted. That is a risk every woman runs every day, and good women generally know how to deal with it when met with, The swordfish and the thrasher are always a match for the whale when they meet him, No, Mr Fish, we fear that just as much as you fear cooking the dinner or pearl powdering the darling baby. It is the death of the darling liquor traffic you fear, and you have good cause to do so, for we mean death to it, just as you meant death to the poor cabmen's shelter, and we mean many more things; only give us our rights, We mean preservation of innocence and marital ties, not destruction, A bad man may sometimes find himßelf even in Parliament, but a bad woman never would. And a good man will never love his wife one whit the less because she is his equal. There was a time when man monopolised the higher educations, but that is no longer so; yet how often her unfittedness was, in days gone by, held up as a reason for keeping her ignorant, And now what man dare say she is not capable of education ? So with the franchise; only try us and we will soon show you whether we are capable of judging a man on his merits or not. Relying on the good and true of our country, who have promised to fight manfully for us—l am, etc,, Jostitm. Dnnedin, September 4. TO THB EDITOR. Sir,—ln the early stages of evolutionary development Disraeli dropped in amongst bishops and clergy in Synod assembled. He delivered a most telling address, with the ever memorable peroration: " The time, my Lord, has arrived when we must declare ourselves on the side of the ape or the angels. For myself, I declare for the angels.' The Premier frankly admits that making man and woman in a legal tense synonymous

is a most revolutionary departure, That it will break up the sanotities of home life is certain. Why, if oonoeded, should the man be punished for negleoting to support his family T Again, women must be taxed and drilled to defend onr shores as well as the men. Much is made of Sir John Hall advocating the franohise in 1879, Did he then and subsequently dream of " one man one.vote?" Lord Randolph Churchill, writing of the Kimberley diaunnd mines, says the tiny crystal is to be used for the gratification of female vanity, and some mitigation of cynical criticism might be urged if the diamonds only adorned the beautiful and viituous. So with this woman's vote question. Many of us remember how the small majority who oarried the abolition of provinces afterwards repented the vote given, and, could they live over again, would reverse that memorable division. So will it be with this one. The upheaval is not asked for by women, and by politicians only as a means to an end. Much is said about the State of Wyoming. Surely there even it is not so low down as " one woman one vote." With suoh a small majority in the Lower House, one hopes the Council will delay its operation till 1894 at any rate.—l am, etc,, Ad Rem. Dunedin, September 5.

TO THB EDITOB. SlK,—The extraordinary behaviour of the Premier on Thursday evening on the above question, I Bubmit, deserves more than passing notice, and if the trades and labor councils and Liberal associations throughout the colony do not ask for an immediate explanation from him and his colleagues over this matter they are constituted of a different grit to what I take them for. A more base piece of political jugglery, and that in the broad light of an openly expressed public opinion, has never been enaoted in the Parliament of New Zealand. What motives prompted him in such political treachery those of us who are not behind the scenes are unable to peroeive. One thing is certain, that it was not lack of support, for on the third reading of the Bill out of a House consisting of seventy-two members only eight could be found to oppose this liberal, just, and desired for privilege. It is well known to those who have bestirred themselves in bringing this measure forward what a great power the opponents to it possess and the objects they have in view. But whether that haß been brought to bear on the Premier or not let him explain. Sir, during the late elections I was a supporter of the Liberal candidates, and, with one exception, am so still. But of their leader in the House, his conduct on Thursday evening has suspended my allegiance to him, unless his action is made perfectly clear and satisfactory. If an eleotion were to take place on the morrow, and a candidate were to ask for my vote on the ground of his being a follower of John Ballance, my answer would be short but to the point—namely, that I would sooner vote lot a Chinaman's dog than for a man to represent me in Parliament who could excuse suoh conduct in his so-called leader. • -lam, etc., J.J.J. Dunedin, September 5.