WOMAN SUFFRAGE.

Evening Star, Issue 14036, 17 April 1909, Page 2

WOMAN SUFFRAGE.

Bv a telegram recently received from the Secretary of State to the Colonies, the Victorian Premier was notified that His Majesty the King had given his assent to the Adult Suffrage Act passed last session. This extends the franchise in State elections to all adult women, and thus crowns the work that was begun fifteen years ago of removing obstacles from the political pathway of the sex, at least as far as voting at elections is concerned. Lnaer the new law women ratepayers whose names are on the municipal rolls will bo placed on the electoral rolls, and non-ratepayers can take out electoral rights. As the new rolls will be compiled by the beginning of May, and the new Labor ■ Ministry are evidently riding for a fall, it is not improbable that the enfranchised women, after being wooed by candidates, will soon be afforded an opportunity of gracing the polling booths and causing flutterings in the hearts of susceptible returning officers and poll clerks. In connection with the progress of the adult suffrage movement just consummated, it is satisfactory to note that New Zealand, by her Electoral Act, 1893, led the advance by extending to women of both races the right to vote for members of the House of Representatives. In the following year South Australia, that has never been regarded as the most politically progressive of the Australian States, passed an Act that granted women’s suffrage. The West Australian Parliament, on the eve of absorption into the Commonwealth, passed an adult suffrage Bill, not because there was any clamor for such a measure on the part of electors generally or of women themselves, but because the dominant political head of the colony (Sir John Forrest) argued that the new Commonwealth was sure to enlarge the franchise, and therefore electors should be prepared for the change. The mother colony of New Soutii Wales did not fall into line until 1902, and two years after 66.51 per cent, of the newly-enfranchised women availed themselves of their political privilege at the polls. In Tasmania the first vote taken under adult suffrage was in 1906, but very little more than half the number of women on the rolls troubled themselves to record their votes. In Queensland it was not till 1907 that women were accorded electoral privileges', and at the State elec-, tion 63.64 per cent, of those registered voted. Last of all, after many ineffectual attempts, thwarted by a conservative Legislative Council, our Victorian sisters are placed on an equality with other women in the several States of the Commonwealth.

In reviewing these progressive steps towards uniformity in the recognition of women's rights, it is interesting to note that success lias not been won at the bodkin s point. There has been no street marching with banners flying, no chaining of slender waists to furniture fixtures, no intrusion unbidden into private gatherings at Ministers’ houses, no slapping of policemen’s laces, and no martyrdoms by imprisonment. In the seven Legislatures detailed, and in the hcderal Chambers, enfranchismont has been brought about by thoroughly legitimate means—by public agitation at meetings, petitions, and Press advocacy. It may be that in some instances politicians in power have brought iorward these measures for the purpose of advancing the interest of their party or strengthening their hold on Ministerial seats. It is further possible that candidates wooing their constituencies made women’s suffrage a plank in their platform because the demand was popular, not because Die measure was positively necessary. In politics there is no such thing possible as a clear-cut issue during an election. The ruling principle too often is •• all things to all men,” so that by some means a majority is secured. Finality has, after a fi 1 toon years’ struggle, been reached, and no one, it may fairlv he presumed, lias the slightest wish to repeal these measures. The right of women to be qualified to vote has, per se, never been questioned, and delay lias only been caused by those who had doubts as to whether the majority of women really yearned for enfranchisement. Tiie capacity of women to take an active part in the government of the country can hardly bo urged in Great Britain and her dependencies, seeing that queens regnant have adorned British history. Hero wo have gone still further, for Maori women, by virtue of residence, can vote on an equality with men in the four native electoral districts for native representatives. It may bo claimed without egotism that the eyes of politicians and reformers in older countries are watching with keen interest the working out of social experiments in these young, unfettered countries under the Southern Cross. What a pity it is that militant suffragists who are pleading the enfranchisement of British women do not turn their eyes in this direction, and see by wnat means the cause thev so vehemently champion lias prevailed. Every mail that comes to hand from the Home Country bears Iresh evidence of the fi antic, hysterical efforts made by petticoated leaders to win their canso by physical force demonstrations. These surely proclaim the unfitness of those who defy the law to have a voice in the selection /of those who are to legislate. The hrguraentum baculinum, especially when coming from women, must necessarily be as ineffectual as reasoning with their elbows, which is generally said to he a feminine characteristic. For these ill-equipped twentieth century Amazons to claim that they are making history by advancing the honor of women as the first principle; of their faith; to declare that they are prepared to do all, to suffer all, to dare all things for the elevation of the feminine host is the veriest fustian that over was uttered from stump or cart tail. The new woman of this compelling creed,” as it is called, has no faith in man-elected representatives. Mrs Gerald Paget, writing on their behalf not long since, declared that

The first stop of the newest woman in this our newest day is to flout the politician-man who flouted her—the weak-kneed knight who, to the number of four hundred and twenty of him (M.P.s), did persistent battle for his patient lady, with tin swords, emerging debonnair, but with the deed undone—she flouts him, and calls on men with hides unbound and ethics within their skulls. Sure is she that they will come; for outside St. Stephen’s walls the feeling grows that above and beyond all this clamor and strife a new philosophy broods—a philosophy which shall proclaim the sanity of right in succession to the disarray of might. Not in vain, then, will it have been foretold that the twentieth century is to be the cen-

tury wherein the human race, impelled by the mother-spirit of its composition, will make one mighty effort to effect in unison that which it has not been able to achieve apart. Not in vain will it have been surmised that, in order to escape the common doom of nations, the human race will be compelled, in the end, to take the one step needful to open up the avenues leading to a perfect purification. This is fine writing in the cause of adult suffrage with a vengeance, but a few lines further on the same lady gives a sample of elbow logic by stating that “ Nature allotted to woman the *' supreme post of honor and responsi- “ bility in the task of building and

“ rearing nations.” What more do they want than this “ supreme post ” that mere man can never fill P If granting votes to women is to ‘ ! open “up the avenues leading to perfect ‘‘ purification,” then we in this favored corner of God’s footstool are several years nearer our political millennium than those whose destinies are directed from St. Stephen’s, Westminster.