THE ISSUE IN THE COMMONS.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XLVII, Issue XLVII, 2 March 1912, Page 6

THE ISSUE IN THE COMMONS.

The Conciliation Rill embodies what the suffragists deem to be their minimum demands. The Bill is technically known as the Parliamentary Franchise (Women) Bill, and it provides : (1) Every woman possessed of a household qualification, within the mtaning ci the Representation of the People Act. 1884, shall be entitled to be registered as a. voter; and, when registered, tc vote for the country or borough in which the qualifying premises are situate. (2) For the purposes of this Act, : woman shall not be disqualified by mar riage from being registered as a voter, provided that husband or wife shail not both be qualified in respect of the samt oroporty. While Mr. Birrel] (Chief Secretary foi Ireland) supports the Conciliation Bill, giving the vote to a limited number of women (about 1,250.00U), Mr, Lloyd George (Chancellor of the Exchequer) insists that th e franchise, if given to women, should be give.i on a broader democratic bpgis, -enfranchising probably seven or eight millions. Sir Edward Grey (Secretary for Foreign Affairs) sees with Mr. Birrell rather, than with Mr. Lloyd George, and warns the suf fragists that if they ask for too much they may get nothing. Amendments embracing the larger propsals, if moved to the Conciliation Bill, or to the- manhood suffrage measure, promised by the Government, "would, he fears, seriously divide the women's suHrage forces in the House of Commons. Besides Sir Edward Grev and Mr. Birrell, the following notable members of the several parties support the Con ciliation Bill: Mr. John Bums, Mr. Balfour, Mr. Bonar Law, Mr. Alfred Lyttelton, Mr. G. Lansbury, and Mr. Snowden. The Conciliation BiU of 1911 did not get beyond the second reading stage. but the Government has promised thaj, this session a week will be set aside for its further stages. Analysing the sec ond reading division on it, in May. 191. when it secured a majority of 167 (25588), one finds that 155 Liberals voted for it, and 36 against; 53 Unionists voteJ foi it and 43 against; 26 Labour were in favour and none against; 31 Nationalists in favour and nine against.