WOMEN AND THE VOTE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 18949, 21 February 1925, Page 9

WOMEN AND THE VOTE.

AGE LIMIT AT HOME. LABOUR BILL TO REDUCE. GOVERNMENT'S OPPOSITION. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. (Received 10.5 p.m.) Renter. LONDON. Feb. 19. The Secretary of Slate for Home Affairs, Sir W. Joynson Hicks, gave notice in the House of Commons to-day that he will submit a motion for the rejection of a Labour member's private bill to give women tho right to the vote—which at present they are eligible to exercise at tho age of 30—or. the same terms as men, who are eligible at the ago of 21. The Minister's motion says it is considered to be inopportune in the early stages of a new Parliament to pass a Franchise Bill which would involve a general election. At tho same time, the motion invites the House to express the opinion that a scheme of franchise reform should be submitted within the life-time of the present Parliament. A similar bill to the one referred to in the message was introduced in the House of Commons, in February, 1924, by Mr. William Adamson, who was then Secretary for Scotland in the- Labour Government. The measure advanced no further than its second reading. Mr. Adamson is a member of the present Parliament, being the Labour representative for West Fife, and it may be that he has reintroduced his bill." Had the measure been adopted in February, 1924, it was computed that the position of men. and women voters in England and W ales would have been altered as follows: 1924 Position. If Bill Passed. M,. n . 10,496,000 10,496,000 Women .. 7,890,000 12,390,000 Total . . 13,386,000 22,886,000 Including Scotland and Northern Ireland the, vote would have totalled 25.816.000, divided approximately into 12,165.000 men and 13,651,000 women.