MANHOOD SUFFRAGE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 14867, 19 December 1911, Page 4

MANHOOD SUFFRAGE.

| PROMISE BY PRIME MINISTER. ! THE SUFFRAGETTES INDIGNANT). j j *" [from our OWN correspondent.] London - , November 10. A deputation in favour of adult suffrage, headed by Mr. Arthur - Henderson, M.P., waited upon the Prime Minister on Tuesday, and received in reply an announcement which completely overshadows previous electoral reform Bills. Mr. Asquith declared in favour of adult manhood suffrage ; and tho House of Commons. will decide whether women shall be included. The suffragettes' Bill to give the vote to women householders is apparently doomed, for this statement means that either every i adult woman will get the vote or no woman will get it. The Prime Minister said that his opinion as to woman suffrage was fairly well known. With regard to the so-called Conciliation (the suffragettes) Billit was not a term .which ho would have chonen for it—the Government, whatever the opinions of individual members, had given their distinct pledges, and by those pledges they must abide. On the assumption that tho Bill was introduced next session, with its title J sufficiently wide to admit a complete '■ amendment, it would receive the facilities asked for. A Larger Question. But a larger question was raised by the j deputation. Last February to a deputation Mr. Asquith used these words: Wo believe a man's right to voto depends on his being a citizen., and that i that man ought to be entitled to one vote and no more." Ho had long been I of the opinion that there was only one way in which this question could bo settled. That was by abolishing once, and for all the technical distinctions which at present existed, such as lodger, propertyowner, occupier, rated resident, householder. The whole thing must bo ewept away. (Hear, hear.) The thing must bo placed on the only rational foundation that a man who had satisfied the conditions he had laid down, and was a bona-fide resident in the neighi bourhood where he claims a voto, should bo automatically, without any effort of his own, and by tho machinery of a public officer, and at tho public expense, invested with the full power of the franchise. That was a very simple, intelligible position, and certainly, as far as lie could forecast, that" would be the principle upon which legislation will proceed. Speaking for himself, he parted company when they said that the word " man "must include " woman," but any Bill introduced would be introduced in such a form that it would be open to the House of Commons, if it pleased, to make that extension and amendment to it.

On the main principle that they must put the franchise on this simple and rational foundation he was entirely with the deputation, and it was the intention of tho Government in the next session to introduce a measure of itself on very simple lines, with the object of carrying that principle into effect. Beyond that they would not expect him to go.

Press Opinions. The Liberal papers give a hearty welcome to the prospect of one man one vote. Tho Conservative papers want the whole subject considered, with redistribution of electoral areas.

The Times says:—"lt is simply a farce to talk of one man one vote, while as a matter of fact every man in one constituency may have five or 10 times the Toting power of any man in another. ■ Franchise reform without redistribution can be nothing but a window-dressing echeme for party purposes." > Morning Post:"lf Mr. Asquith has in view a project of manhood suffrage pure and simple, we must* emphatically protest against even the suggestion. . . . at a time when the Constitution is practically in suspense." ;• • . '■ - Daily Express: —" A proposal to endow ignorance with power and to throw the gravest responsibilities on the least competent shoulders is » counsel of despair • or blatant trickery. That is Mr. Asquith's new proposal. Its'frank political dishonesty is enhanced by the omission of any reference to redistribution."

The woman suffrage societies are up in arms, and Miss Christabel Pankhurst states:"The Women's Social and Political Union will regard the Premier's statement as a declaration of war. Hostilities will be immediately resumed. The Gavernment's proposal is monstrous. It is an insult to the women of the country. From this moment we revert to our anti-Govern-ment policy. The Government will be opposed in every possible way. The suggestion that we should allow the question of woman suffrage to depend upon an amendment- to the Reform Bill is an insult to our intelligence. The samo offer haa been made in the past, and we have ; rejected it with contempt. Our demand is that if the Government are dealing with the franchise at all they must make themselves responsible for giving votes to women" as well as to men. Nothing short of that will satisfy IIS."- • ,