BRITISH ELECTORAL REFORM

Otago Daily Times, Issue 17038, 23 June 1917, Page 10

BRITISH ELECTORAL REFORM

VOTES FOR WOMEN. CARRIED BY IMMENSE MAJORITY. Pifisa Association—By Telegraph—Copyright. Australian and N.Z. Cablo Association. LONDON, June 21. In the House of Commons an amendment to the Electoral Bill was moved, removing the age limit of 30 years for women voters in order to discuss the whole question which classes of women ought to be enfranchised. Tito opponents of women's suffrage generally supported the amendment. Sir G. Cave (Home Secretary) said that the Government considered that they must take a definite line He appealed to the House to reject the amendment, otherwise the Government would be obliged to reconsider the wihole position. The amendment was negatived bv 201 votes to 25. Sir G. Cave also opposed an amendment proposing to confer a local government vote on those women wliose husbands already possess a vote. He said it involved a drastic chang6, adding 5,000,000 voters. The Speaker's Conference had specially recommended that husband and wife should not both be enfranchised in respect to the same property. Tlie supporters of the amendment declared that women were chiefly concerned in municipal affairs, and the amendment would benefit working women. The amendment was withdrawn. Mr Rowland Hunt charged the Government with a breach of the political truce in introducing women's suffrage. The clause embodying women's suffrage was finally carried by 214 votes to 17. AGE FIXED AT THIRTY. Router's Telegrams. LONDON, June 21. The House of Commons, by 291 votes to 25, agreed to 30 as the age of qualification for women voters. VOTES FOR SOLDIERS. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. LONDON, June 21. Sir George Cave, Home Secretary, stated in the House of Commons that soldiers and sailors would be jjirven a vote whether at home or abroad. Soldiers from the dominions would be qualified to vote after six months' residence. o