VOTES FOR WOMEN

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 23 February 1925, Page 5

VOTES FOR WOMEN

EQUAL TERMS WITH MEN

PRIVATE BILL REJECTED

GOVERNMENT'S INTENTION’S. BY CABLE— PRESS ASSOCIATION—COPYRIGHT. LONDON, Feb. 20. Equality of the sexes in regard to the Parliamentary franchise was discussed in the House of Commons.

Mr J. Whitley (Labour) moved the second reading of the Representation of the People Bill, providing for the enfranchisement of- all women aged 21 and upwards on the same terms as men. He argued against the Government contention that the Bill would necessarily mean a general election immediately', and suggested that, as all parties "had agreed upon the general principle, the Bill should be passed on the understanding that it would not be used until the next general election. He pointed out that the adult franchise prevailed in Australia, New Zealand and the Irish Free State. A Labourite, Miss Wilkinson, seconded the motion. Mr Arthur Henderson (Labour) supported the Bill and Mr Whitley’s suggestion. He also suggested that the Speaker should preside at- a conference on the effect of’ the measure on the question of redistribution, the cost of election, and corrupt practices. • Women provided the liveliest passages in the debate. They kept the House in roars of laughter. Lady Astor • (Conservative'! said she would vote for the Bill. She deplored the Ministry butting in on a private Bill. It was not usual, and put many supporters in a difficult position. It was annoying to those not represented by live constitutencies coming to the House and doing things which put the whole party in the soup. Women felt they had been let down by all parties. Miss Wilkinson said it was an old cry that if young women were enfranchised they would vote for_ the bestlooking candidates, but scrutinising the benches she could not see any need for anxiety on that score. A Labourite interjected: “A good many must have worn masks.” Air Ramsay MacDonald (Leader of the Labour Party) said the most pathetic figure in the House was Lady Astor, marooned on a small rock and surrounded by a sea of deadheads. He said that the Ministry for Labour would not yield an inch. The Premier (Mr Stanley Baldwin) said he could not think of accepting a private Bill on a subject on which the Ministry intended to legislate. Sir W. Joynson-Hicks (Conservative) moved a Government amendment for the rejection of the Bill on the ground that it would involve a general election and consequently the interruption of important legislative and administrative work, but asking the House to record the opinion that it considered a scheme of" franchise reform should be submitted to the House of Commons within the lifetime of the present Parliament. He pointed out that if the Bill passed women voters would be in a majority of 2,000,000 over men instead of a minority of 2,000,000, as at present. The Government intended to carry out the pledge to give equal political rights to rnen and women. They desired to do it by agreement and have a conference of all parties, to be. followed by redistribution.

Mr Wedgwood Berm (Liberal) said the Liberals unanimously favoured the Bill. He asserted the Government was evading its pledge in regard to equal rigths at 21. Sir W. Joyneon-Hicks, replying to a question, expressed the opinion that a conference should be established in ,1926 to consider all the questions ' involved and introduce a Bill in 1927.

Mr Ramsay MacDonald, supporting the Bill, saicl he thought the Government intended to “wangle” the franchise. He declared that to lower the age for women to 2.5 and increase it for men to 25 would be an unholy transaction.

The second reading was defeated by 220 votes to 153, and Sir W. JoynsonHicks’ amendment was carried.