WOMEN AND THE VOTE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 14928, 28 February 1912, Page 7

WOMEN AND THE VOTE.

DIFFERENCES IN MINISTRY. THE CONCILIATION BILL. By Telejraph.—Prets Association.— Copyright London, February 28. Whiting to the Dundee branch of the Women's Freedom League, Mr. Churchill, First Lord of the Admiralty, states that he intends to vote against the second reading of Mr. J. W. Shackleton's Conciliation Bill (which extends the franchise to certain women, approximately on a householding basis). Mr. Churchill expresses the opinion that the country is not prepared to give the vote to seven million women at the present time. Mr. Birrell (Chief Secretary for Ireland), replying to a deputation of Bristol women, urged them to stick to the Conciliation Bill, which would place a million and a-quarter women on the register. If they tried to amend the Franchise Reform Bill they must lose all. THE ISSUE IN THE COMMONS. The Conciliation Bill 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 meaning of the Representation of the People Act, 1884, shall be entitled to be registered as a voter; and, when registered, to vote for the county or borough in which the qualifying premises are situate. '(2) For the purposes of this Act, a woman shall not be disqualified by marriage from being registered as a voter, provided that a husband or wife shall not both be qualified in respect of the same property. While Mr. Birrell (Chief Secretary for Ireland) supports the Conciliation Bill, giving the vote to a limited number of women (about 1,250,000), Mr. Lloyd George (Chancellor of the Exchequer) insists that the franchise, if given to women, should bo given on a broader democratic basis, 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 suffragists that if they ask for too much they may get nothing. Amendments embracing the larger proposal, if moved to the Conciliation Bill, or to the manhood suffrage measure promised by | the Government, would, he fears, seriously ! divide the women's suffrage forces in the i House of Commons.

Besides Sir Edward Grey and Mr. Birrell, the following notable members of the several parties support the Conciliation Bill:—Mr. John Burns, Mr. Balfour, Mr. Bonar Law, Mr. Alfred Lyttelton, Mr. G. Lansbury, and Mr. Snowden. The Conciliation Bill of 1911 did not get beyond the second reading stage, but the Government has promised that this session a week will be set aside for its further stages. Analysing the second reading division on it, in May, 1911, when it secured a majority of 167 (255-88), one gnds that 155 Liberals voted for it and 36 against; 53 Unionists voted for it and 43 against; 26 Labour were in favour and none against; 31 Nationalists in favour and nine against.