WELLINGTON ITEMS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LXVII, Issue 8148, 20 April 1887, Page 5

WELLINGTON ITEMS.

[By Telegraph.] [from our own correspondent.] WELLINGTON, April 19. Various rumours have been afloat recently as to the resignation of Sir W. Pitzherbert of the position of Speaker of the Legislative Council. For some time past I have made daily enquiries of Ministers as to the truth or otherwise of these rumours, hut those I have spoken to know nothing about the matter. The Premier,v even to-day professed to be in igorance as to what Sir William had done or was about to do, hut I have learned positively from other sources that Sir William has notified to the Government that he intends to resign, in order that the Hon Mr Waterhouse may be temporarily appointed in his stead. The resignation, I believe, is to be a conditional one. Steps are to be taken whereby Sir William will be able to resume the Speakership upon his return from the Imperial Conference. The difficulty which stood in the way of the Governor appointing Mr Waterhouse Speaker of the Legislative Council has, therefore, virtually been overcome. The Woman's Suffrage Bill to be introduced into the Legislature conjointly by Sir J. Vogel and the Hon Mr Ballance, is entitled, ‘'An Act to extend the right of voting at elections for members of the Honse of Representatives to females,” and provides as follows:—Sub-sections 1 and 2 of Section 2 of “ The Qualification of Electors Act, 1879,” are hereby amended as follows, that is to say, after the words " every man ” at the beginning of each of (he said sub-sections the words "and woman” shall be inserted. Subsection 3 of Section 2 of “ The Qualification of Electors Act, 1879,” is hereby amended as follows, that is to say, after the words, “every male” at toe beginning of the said subsection the words “and female” shall be inserted. Upon compliance by any female person, qualified as an elector by this Act, with the requirements of the law for the time being in force, as to the registration of electors v for elections of members of the House of Representatives, it shall be toe duty of every registrar, who shall be engaged or concerned in forming toe electoral roll for any electoral district, to place upon such electoral roll, as soon as conveniently may be, after this Act shall come into force, the name of every fepiale person qualified as aforesaid in like manner in toe case of a male person so qualified, and for that purpose to take, use, and adopt all. the like ways, means, and expedients as in toe case of male persons, qualified to be registered as electors. Every female elector registered under the provisions of this Act shall be entitled to, and possess all, the same qualifications, rights, and privileges, and be subject to the like disqualifications, disabilities, and penalties as a male elector shall for the time being possess, and be subject to under toe provisions of the laws for toe time being in force regulating elections and qualifications of electors. The date at which the Act is to come into force is left blank.