POLITICAL NOTES.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume IV, Issue 237, 21 September 1914, Page 3

POLITICAL NOTES.

AN M.P.’S MISTAKE. THE BAY OF ISLANDS SEAT. AVellington, Sept. 17. The statement made by Mr. T. M. Wilford in the House of Representatives on Tuesday evening regarding something which he said had appeared in a Bay of 1 stands newspaper during the “truce” period, above the signature of Mr. E. A. James, general secretary to the Reform rarty. advocating the claims of Sir. V. Reed’s candidature, is replied to by Mr. James in a letter in to-night’s “Evening Post.” Air. James says:—“Air. AVilford would have the public believe that 1 have broken the political truce by contributing an article to the ‘Northern Luminary’ in advocacy of Mr. Vernon Reed’s claims upon the Bay of Islands seat four days prior te his making his statement in, the House. But this so-called ‘article’ is really an editorial comment upon a letter addressed by me on the 3rd August last to the secretary of the Hukerenui branch of the New Zealand Political Reform League in reply to a communication of his dated 29th July. 1 was asked by that gentleman which of the two Hefcrm candidates who have announced themselves for the Bay of Islands seat wa-- the selected Government candidate. Aly reply was evidently handed to the editor of the Luminary.’ who quoted it in full at the close of Ills own comments upon the position. 1 am in no way responsible for the publication of the letter, nor have I'at any time been in communication with the ‘Luminary’ people. Air. AVilford describes the article as ‘calling attentiton to the virtues of Air. Reed, and giving reasons why the electors should vote for him in preference to Mr. Wilkinson.’ He must therefore have read the letter, and reading it, could not fail to also see that the question it answered was raised on 29h July. So much for Air. AVilford’s latest mare’s nest.”

WOMEN’S FRANCHISE. anniversary: on Saturday. VOTES FOR 21 YEARS. [BY TELEGRAPH —SPECIAL.] AVellington, Sept. 20. Saturday was the twenty-first anniversary of the date on which the Act conferring the franchise on women in New Zealand became law. The principle of female franchise had been affirmed by the House of Representatives on two occasions prior to 1893. In 1888 a resolution ■n favour of votes for women was carried in Committee on the Electoral Bill introduced in that year, but it was subsequently struck out in 1892. A Bill enfranchising women passed both Houses, but it did not become law, there being a difference between the Houses, the Council demanding that electoral right similar to those granteel to seamen and commercial travellers should be given to women outside of the cities anel boroughs.

During the session of 1893 petitions signed by 31.872 women were presented to the House, asking for the franchise. A Bill, conferring this privilege on women, was passed by both Houses in that year and it received the Governor’s assent on September 1 9th. On the same day a discussion took place in the House as to the means» that should be adopted to enable women to exer.■ise their new privilege. Various suggestions were made as to the best methods of enrolment, one of them made by the Premier (Mr. Seddon) being that the police should be employed in certain districts to put women on the rolls. This did not find tavour with several members, one of whom remarked : “I shall object. entirely to a policeman going to my house to have mv wife put on the roil.

Another member suggested a postponement of tb.e general elections which were then pending in order that the women might be enrolled in time. The elections, however, took place at the ordinary time. The women who voted having been enrolled without the difficulty that was anticipated in certain quarters. ELECTIONS EXPECTED THIS YEAR. Wellington, Sept. 21. Although no announcement of the result of Saturday’s conference has \et been made it is understood that the elections t ill be held this year. Probably part of the Government’s sessimal programme will be held over. EDUCATION BILL. Wellisgton. Sept. 21. It is expected that the Education Pit] will be rc-poted by the Educatn n Committee late this week or next week.