WOMAN SUFFRAGE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXX, Issue 9308, 18 September 1893, Page 5

WOMAN SUFFRAGE.

FATE OF THE ELECTORAL BILL.

NOT YET ASSENTED TO* [BY TELEGRAPH SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT.]

Wkilington, Sunday. In the lobbies and in the city yesterday the Woman Franchise and its seeming certain consummation was naturally the all-pervading topic, with some speculation as to -by the Bill had nob been assented to and returned to the Legislature on the previous evening. There were the usual stories, all, of course, more or less upon good, if nob the best authority, that it had been already assented to; again that the Premier had nob yet presented ib for the Royal assent. One "well-informed" legislator told me authoritatively that the Premier had gone up to Government House at 11.30 a.m. with the Electoral and four other Bills (he was very exact), for the purpose of obtaining the fateful assenb. Before I had time to determine the credibility of this evidence I was positively informed by a friend of the Premier that "Dick Seddon" was still in bed, and that he, in the opinion of my then informant, had "something up his sleeve." Ere I could suggest that it must be something very precious, since he had taken it to bed with him, we were joined by yeb another well - informed legislator, who placed the political fortune of the ladies in assured safety by intimating as a clincher "Well, I may tell you that whether the Bill has gone to Government House or not, the Governor yesterday afternoon decided to assent to it; that I know for a fact." 1 confess that this last announcement so impressed me that I thought I could take a rest, and read of the final triumph of the political woman in the evening papers. But lo ! when those journals came to hand she was apparently still unfranchised, and she is as I write at five p.m. to-day still with-. out rights of citizenship. As to the whereabouts of the Bill,*! believe it is still in the custody of the Clerk of Parliaments, that it was all in readiness to be presented by the Premier to his Excellency, on Saturday.butthabMr. Seddon was so fatigued by his really exhausting labours of the past week, that it was necessary that he should remain in bed to recuperate. Perhaps ib will go up tomorrow or the day after.

WAS ASSENT ASKED?

You will have observed, in my despatch containing the Ministerial statement, on Friday night, by the Premier, with regard to the Electoral Bill, that I pointed out the possible significance of the fact that the Premier did nob say that ho had, in the letter he was about to sign and send to the Governor, asked assent to the Bill. That he was generally understood in the gallery to have said this, is made clear by the reports in the Wellington journals. The Ministerial organ even concludes its* report of the incident in these term 3 :—" In reply to Sir John Hall, the Premier said, Ministers intended to send in letters to His Excellency, asking him to withdraw the message he had sent down and give his assent to the Bill." In view of the intense interest that has been excited by the present position of affairs, and tho suspicion that still exists in the minds of many partizans, it will be interesting to explain my reasons for directing such special attention on Friday to the Premier's closing sentences. As 1 have said, he was understood in the gallery to say that which is reported in the New Zealand Times and other local papers, but as he was very indistinctly heard, and as the statement waß of such momentous importance, I thought ib prudent to determine the accuracy of my note. Having, therefore written it out I submitted the text lor perusal by a close political associate of the Premier, who was sitting in his immediate vicinity, and listening very attentively to the statement when made. Handing to him the transcript, I asked is this a correct report of the closing passage ot the Premier's statement, if not, will you correct it. He did so, handing me back the document with the words "and give his assent" erased, hence my emphasis of this point on Friday. Whether it has any extraordinary significance or otherwise I leave your readers to determine, each according bo his individual ability to read between the lines. As a side-light upon the incident, I may remind you that, after the Premier had made his general statement, Sir John Hall asked, " Has the Government advised him (the Governor) to assent to the Bill To this the Premier replied :—"I had an interview this afternoon, and I informed him of the course we intended to adopt, and I have here for signature a letter I am about signing to His Excellency, asking him to withdraw the amendments." Then followed the something which was practically inaudible to the gallery, and the reports of which may, for all I know, have been as wide of the mark as was, apparently, the conclusion. However the Premier proceeded with some ostentation to sign the document, and Sir John Hall was apparently satisfied that the letter contained all he desired. For my own part, without for a moment presuming to cast the slightest imputation upon intention bub simply as a matter of human curiosity, 1 think I should like to peruse the document.

PETITION FROM AUCKLAND.

Sir George Whitmore yesterday forenoon presented to the Governor a petition from Auckland, signed by 3357 persons, praying His Excellency nob to assent to woman's franchise. Telegrams to the same etfecbaro being received from all parts.

WOMEN AND THE ROLLS.

In an interview with a newspaper correspondent, Mr. Bownie Stewart said : — "Women, of course, cannot go on the roll till the Bill has become law, but it is extremely important that they should be ready to go on the roll so soon as the assent of the Governor is notified. Although Parliament does not expire by the effluxion of time til! December, the Government might be advised to dissolve the present Parliament at an earlier date, and the writs might be issued immediately Afterwards, and, from the issue*of the writs no names can be added to the electoral roll. Therefore the danger lies not so much in the Bill not passing, but in the event of it passing. Parliament being suddenly dissolved, and the writs for the new Parliament being issued. This would have the effect of keeping off all women not then registered. It is important, therefore, that all women who wish to exercise the right of voting should be ready as soon as the Bill has been assented to, to apply to have their name 3 put on the roll."

PETITION PROM TAURANGA.

Tauranga, Saturday. Petitions against the granting of the franchise to women are being numerously signed here, and will be despatched to headquarters at once. A good many people object to sigu on the ground that the people's representatives passed the new legislation, and that the public have no right to go behind their action. There is little doubt, however, that the majority of electors here are adverse to woman being enfranchised.