THE FRANCHISE FOR WOMEN

Evening Star, Issue 8771, 11 March 1892, Page 1

THE FRANCHISE FOR WOMEN

Not only in New Zealand is the question of extending the parliamentary franchise to women a subject which excites interest and discussion at the present time—the matter is also assuming considerable prominence in the United Kingdom. A few clays back a cablegram announced that at a crowded meeting in London, presided over by Mr Leonard Courtney (Chairman of Committees in the House of Commons, and one of the ablest and most philosophical of modern politicians), a resolution was passed in support of the project, and a committee formed to further the desired end. In the Bill now before the House of Commons, providing for the establishment of local government in Ireland, it is directed that women shall have the right of voting at the election of the new councils, the franchise for that purpose being the same as that which obtains in parliamentary elections. Both Lord Salisbury and Mr Balfour have recently touched in noteworthy terms on the general question of women's suffrage. Mr Balfour does not support the movement, but, speaking at Bury on October 23, he made an observation which bears very directly on the position of the question in New Zealand. He was arguing against the principle of one man one vote, and observed: "My " opinions on the subject of female " suffrage are well known, but if you " are going to say that every intelligent person who is of age has a right " to a vote and no more than a vote, " on what possible principle are you " going to exclude the women ?" Now, in New Zealand the principle of one man one vote is in force; so that, according to this distinguished opponent of woman's claim, there is no possible principle on which women may be justifiably excluded from the franchise in this Colony. Most noteworthy, however, is the action of the great Congress of Conservative associations which met at Birmingham during the latter part of November. Viscount Fielding (Conservative candidate for Rugby) moved a resolution to the effect that when the representation of the people was reopened by Parliament, consideration should be given to the claims of women to be admitted to the franchise when entitled by ownership or occupation. The mover remarked that " now that labor and social ques- " tions were coming to the front, it " was eminently desirable that women " should have a voice in the solution "of questions which so mi. ,- . .0.;"cerned th'- '"-■■•? n■■ »;i f - - carried "b} "'• 'u " ', amid lou 1. e

most import.. < T ! d as yet in the ot uie moveteienfc. Mrs Fawcett, widow of the famous Henry Fawcett, has had a good deal to do with the advauce upon this question of the Conservative party, of whieli she is now an energetic member; and we need hardly remind our readers that she herself is a woman cf distinguished ability and accomplishment. Speaking at Birmingham, she pointed out that there were 38,000 women landowners in England and Wales, and 20,000 women farmers, "but they were not entitled to vote, " though their laborers and other em"ployes were." There are no less than 800,000 women in the United Kingdom possessing property and other qualifications which would give them tlifi vote if they were men. The following passage from Mrs Fawcetts speech refers to a favorite argument against the reform, and the words are rendered highly valuable by her experience and knowledge of the sex : " There was a belief that the right to " vote would tend to make women un- " feminine, or less fond of domestic ties. "If it would, tend to make women " cease to rock the cradle, she should " not advocate it; but she did not " think a woman would forsake h«r "child to vote at an election. Ex- " perience showed that the fear of un- " sexing women was absolutely ground- " less." In the letter of our American correspondent, published in our issue of last Saturday, appear notable testimonies to the influence of woman's suffrage in Wyoming and Kansas ; and it is not surprising to learn that "the principal advantage has " been in the fact that where parties or "factions exist in the cities, both " sides, having the fear of the woman " vote before their eyes, endeavor to " put up better candidates than they " otherwise might do." Who can doubt that a considerable amount of the opposition which the movement meets at the hands of the various politicians arises from the knowledge that this tendency towards the choice of " better candidates " is a certain product of the admission of women to the rights of government? There is no occasion to thresh out once more the old points of controversy. Our chief object in referring to the subject is to warn supporters of the movement in New Zealand against allowing the question to slumber. No appearance of justification must be given to the old fallacy that women do not want the vote ; and the fact that the project is almost within sight of accomplishment must not be suffered to cause any relaxation in the persistence and energy of the demand. The matter is certain to come before Parliament again next session, and we think that under wise management there is every prospect of the reform at length passing both Houses. Certainly the victory should be won before the next General Election; and there is not the slightest reason why the operation of the measure,

when it has once passed the Legislature, should be delayed to a subsequent period. Of course, if it should really prove impossible to obtain the concession for all adult women, and yet possible to obtain it for those with property qualifications, it would be wise to accept the ' ! half-loaf " as an instalment; but, nevertheless, such a restriction would be quite illogical and altogether out of harmony with the spirit of our electoral laws. In the United Kingdom, where manhood suffrage does not yet obtain, womanhood suffrage is at present out of the question; but, as Mr Balfoub points out, the granting of one vote to every man in respect to his manhood leaves no excuse for the withholding of a similar privilege to every woman. As Sir Julius Vogel observed in his admirable speech on the subject, delivered in the House of Representatives a few years ago, woman suffrage is the logical outcome of the principle of electoral law which New Zealand has adopted—the principle, namely, of a population basis. No new theory is involved in the present demand ; Parliament is merely asked te accomplish the reasonable development of its own enactments.