MANHOOD SUFFRAGE AND HOME RULE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 14868, 20 December 1911, Page 8

MANHOOD SUFFRAGE AND HOME RULE.

At first sight there does not appear to be any close connection between, manhood suffrage and Home Rule, but a little reflection explains the fears that have been aroused among the Irish Party by Mr. Asquith's announcement of his intention to bring in next session a Bill to extend the franchise; The anomalies of the present^ franchise system in Great Britain are so :numerous >■ and i so-

.glaring that no surprise need be < felt at the • decision ■' of the Government to attempt a sweeping reform. The proposal is to adopt adult suffrage and to introduce! the principle of one man one vote, which,we in New Zealand have now had a lengthy experience of. Whatever may be said for or against the proposed change there can be no doubt that it would, if made, have very far-reach-ing effects, the character and extent of which it is impossible to forecast. Even among Mr. Asquith's own followers there are probably not a few who regard his scheme with no great favour, but we do not anticipate that the mana of his Government would be insufficient to carry it. According to a well-known Parliamentary rule an extension of the franchise is followed, by an immediate dissolution .in order. to enable, the new electorate to exercise its right to vote It is here that the proposal touches the fate of Home Rule for Ireland. Both questions will be dealt with next, session and if the Franchise Bill is passed there would, under ordinary circumstances, be an appeal to the country. What the Irish leaders fear, and probably with good reason, is that in such an event the Government would be defeated owing to the unpopularity of some of their measures, notably.: tHe National Insurance Act. The return to power of the Unionist Party would be fatal to the hopes of the Home Rulers, though we believe a Unionist Government would , be found prepared to grant Ireland a very considerable measure of autonomy. The question really is whether Mr. Asquith will press a Franchise Bill to a point likely to endanger Home Rule. We do not think he will. . Either he will disregard Parliamentary tradition, should it" be passed, or he will, after it has gone through its preliminary stages, postpone its further consideration to a more opportune time. • . ... ■ ■ . :