Untitled

Lyttelton Times, Volume LXXVI, Issue 9494, 17 August 1891, Page 4

A great constitutional principle stands in the way of the proposal to extend the franchise to women. The Parliament was not elected to settle this question at all; and the question is of the most revolutionary order. When any of ns want to make radical changes in the constitution of the country, we must first of all consult the country. Now, can anyone conscientiously declare that at the last elections the country was consulted on this subject ? Moat certainly no one can make such a declaration. The gasp with which the House received the proposal to

give the suffrage to the women of New Zealand would be sufficient proof if any were wanting, of the utter unpreparedness of the House from a constitutional point of view. The Constitution requires that the constituencies shall be consulted before the suffrage is given to women. It also requires another thing, viz., that if the Legislature affirms that women ought to be represented, the representation must be given to them at once. The sacredness of the franchise must be considered and realised. When the franchise is broadened among men this principle is recognised invariably. The vote having been affirmed to be necessary, is at once given. Otherwise there would be taxation without representation, and law-making without consulting the fountain of the power of lawmaking. In like manner if we pass a law giving the franchise to women, Parliament ought at once to bo dissolved, in order that the new element may be considered in the legislation. This latter argument matters little, though it will have weight with many of our legislators. The real strength of the case lies iu the fact that the constituencies have not been consulted about so important a change in the Constitution. The leading feature in the history of the development of Anglo-Saxon freedom is that nothing has ever been done without the consent of the constituencies. Even the great reform of 1832, the persistent refusal of which would have caused a revolution, was not brought about without the voice of the constituencies. Even the ladies must acknowledge and bow to constitutional principle.