WOWEN'S SUFFRAGE.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 14926, 31 August 1910, Page 3

WOWEN'S SUFFRAGE.

HOW. IT WORKS IN THE DOMINION. 'A NEW. ZEALANDER'S IMPRESS •SIONS. JFaoa trmj Own Correspondent.) LONDON, July 8. i\ixt week we shall be in the thick of a? Parliamentary discussion of Mr Shackleton's Woman's Suffrage Bill, and already the newspapers are full of the pros and cons of the subject. The Standard opposes the bill very strongly, and gave prominence on Wednesday to an article 011 "-How Female Suffrage' Works in the Dominion," written by a prominent ,New Zealandcr now Home on a holiday visit. " Tlie prophecies," says the writer, " both of the advocates and opponents of the measure, have for the most part proved singularly wide of the mark. It is interesting to remember that it was not a Radical measure in tho first instance. It was forced upon him (Mr Scddon) by the untiring exertions of a Conservative statesman (tho Hon. Sir John Hall), -who believed that tho women's vote would exercise a steadying effect on politics and help to stem the .rising tide of Socialism,, of which the first heave and swell began, to be felt in the serious labour troubles of the early nineties. It is possible that Sir John, who was one of the ablest Prime Ministers New Zealand ever possessed, became unduly pessimistic, when he was in Opposition, regarding its political future. I had the honour of his acquaintance, and I know from his own lips that ho firmlv believed that the effect of giving women the sulfrago would bo.to add a bulwark to the sanctity of the home, to the security, of property, ■ and would help to check the tendency to rash experimental legislation, which at that time was causing some anxiety to the moTC conservative section of the community." The dismal pictures of women being insulted at the polls-and the happiness of countless households being destroyed by political differences, it was fair to admit, had not been realised, " for anything more decorous thaa the actual voting at a New Zealand election it is impossible to conceive."

"On, tho other hand," continues tho writer, " Sir John Hall's anticipation that women's suffrage would benefit the Conservative cause in New Zealand has proved utterly fallacious. At the lirst election at which women voted—namely, in 1893—a EO-calle<l LiberalrLabour Ministry was returned; then began tho long scries of Labour, laws and other semi-Socialistic experiments in. New Zealand, which bulk so iiu'Kcly in our Statuto Books, and since that time the Conservative party has never had even a. sportinp; chance at tho polls. Tho reason is. not far to seek.- Sir: John Hall thought that as women are the chief sutFercrs by strikes their votes would bo cast, if not on the side.of the employers, at anyra r tp .in,..a.dii-,ection..lcaßt .likely, to bring about-a rupture. He overlooked;.the fact thafc'.iy/jiticiv.in'.coining to*.aidecision aro not wayc.ifo, much, hv ■piiKr.lojjjip'is by wnti'me.iij;'" .ami'.'(hat. jvli'sn, unscrupulous

politicians began to play on class prejudices the wives of the labourers and manual workers would be moved by the same passions and take the same views as their husbands and brothers. ... "Tho prohibitionist vote is steadily growing, and many thoughtful observers arc seriously asking the question how lons the men of New Zealand who do not wish to be deprived ot normal facilities 'or getting liquor will submit 1 to district after district being voted 'dry' largely by the votes of women who, not feeling the need of alcoholic refreshment themselves, are determined that the men shall not bo able to get it .if, they can help it. . . . ''The anticipation that the .women's vote would 'purify the House' and lead to u greater insistence on moral character as a qualification for public life has not been realised. There is more than one instance, of a notoriously confirmed and hopeless drunkard being elected to the House of lta prcsentatives., and it is tolerably well known that in each case women's votes were largely responsible for his return; (hoy voted for him mainly out of personal sympathy for the wife and family, who would be left in straitened circumstances if the peccant polilician found his honorarium suddenly cut off." Tho writer states that what, may be regarded as a more or less harmless'political experiment in New Zealand would, in bis judgment, be absolute madness in England, where the very existence of a, great Km- \ pile may depend on the wisdom and temper I of its Legislature. Gr: t questions of naval' and military armament, of ]>eaco and war, \ of ii strong foreign.policy-would you trua' theso to the passing gusts of emotion which sway the minds of highly-strung women': The whole fiscal policy of the Empire must shortly ;be re-viewed. The financial and j economic considerations to bo weighed are : abstruse and,difficult even, to men of commercial training, and no one will pretend that the feminine intellect, admirable as it is for may purposes, is especially adapted ■, for their solution. | "I have no hesitation in'sawing that tho prevailing characteristics of .women who take a prominent, part in public life in New Zealand are a touching and implicit belief in the power of legislation to effect miracles and revolutionise human nature, a ready acceptance of ' fads' as tho last words of human w:edom, and an eagerness to try any legislative experiments which are plausible in theory. You in England and we of the Empire have a stem task before us to hold our own in the lierco competition of nations waxmg ever- stronger and stronger. Shall wo 'bo better fitted to cope with a virilo nation iko Germany by giving the women of England a share—in time a preponderating share—in the government of the nation s affairs? The question needs only , to be asked to bo answered " In conclusion, tho New Zealandcr argues ' strongly against compromise, and says: — Once give a section of the women the > vote, and to purchase their support poliMcians will outbid each other in the matter • of further concessions, until, as in New , Zealand, every adult servant girl and every ! snop assistant out of hw teens will h W o ■ the vote. The right to sit in Parliament will surely follow, always provided tha*-. England has not previously succumbed to somo foreign Power too wise to place the control of its military and its naval policy' very largely in the hands of its fcmaU. population.

In a leading article the Standard commends tho article to very special attention, and says the correspondent writes with complete frankness and evident moderation. Iho measure in New Zealand was disliked .•nd resisted by 'Sir" Biclmrd S !( ldon who did what he could to defeat the scheme. It was carried, however, through tho exertions of Sir John Hall, and as a consequence the power of demagogues bod been increased and the country given over to the rule of Labour politicians. The Standard does not. suggest that New Zea- ■ land is heading for social and ■industrial perdition, but'it thinks that that country-: young and sparsely inhabited—may run risks which in England could not be contemplated with equanimity. The StandavJ further. thinks that the typical ■ Socialist, in his vice and virtue, is essentially feminine, and the writer concludes:—"Nothing,is more certain than that the first steps taken towards the enfranchisement of women will start the country on the road that leads to State Socialism."