THE ITALIAN ELECTIONS

Greymouth Evening Star, 11 October 1913, Page 5

THE ITALIAN ELECTIONS

WOMEN FIGHT A DUEL

(TIMESSYDNKY SUN SPECIAL CABLES-]

(Received this day at 8.30 a.m.)

ROME, October 1,0

Two women quarrelled at an election meeting and fought a duel with revolvers. One was wounded.

A huge extension of the Italian franchise .comes into force at the general elections this month. Formerly the vote was limited to adult males who had attained a certain standard of education or who' paid approximately £ls a year in direct taxation. A special qualification was provided for business men and farmers, and soldiers who had seen two years’ active service were also qualified. A law adopted last year, to come into force with the dissolution of Parliament, extended the suffrage to all adult males except those who, being under 30 years of age, have neither performed military service nor learnt to read and write. The number of electors is tints increased from less than three millions and a half to more than eight millions and a half. What the result will be no one cares to prophecy. Tlie law that extends the franchise also, brings pavment of members into operation, and Italy is threatened with a large increase in the number of candidates, as well as an enormous increase in tlie number of electors.