WOMEN’S SUFFRAGE

New Zealand Times, Volume XLII, Issue 9694, 23 June 1917, Page 8

WOMEN’S SUFFRAGE

DEBATE IN THE .COMMONS CLAUSE CARRIED ALMOST UNANIMOUSLY. By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright Australian and JT.Z. Cable Association. LONDON, June 31. In the House of Commons an amendment was moved removing the ago limit of thirty years for women voters, In order to discuss the whole question of which classes of women ought to be granted the franchise. The opponents of woman suffrage generally supported the amendment. Sir George Cave (Home Secretary) said tho Government considered it must take a definite line, and appealed t'o the House to reject tho amendment, otherwise the Government would be obliged to reconsider tho whole position. The amendment was negatived by 201 votes to 25. Sir George Cave opposed an amendment conferring the Local Government vote on women whose husbands already possess a vote. He said this involved a drastic change, adding five million votes. The Speakers’ Conference specially recommended that husband and wife should not bo enfranchised in respect to tho same property. Supporters of tho amendment declared that women were chiefly concerned in municipal affairs. The amendment would benefit' the working women. The amendment was withdrawn. Mr R. Hunt (Unionist) charged tho Government with a breach of the political truce in introducing the question of women’s suffrage. Tho clause embodying women’s suffrage in the bill was carried by 214 votes to 17. AGE QUALIFICATION AGREED TO. Renter’s Telegrams. LONDON, June 21. The House of Commons, by 291 votes to 20, agreed to thirty as the age of qualification for women voters.