WOMEN'S SUFFRAGE.

Otago Witness, Issue 3014, 20 December 1911, Page 29

WOMEN'S SUFFRAGE.

LONDON, December 13. One hundred and thirty-eight members of the House of Commons who have voted in favour of women's suffrage have signed a protest against the campaign of rowdyism that is being conducted by certain advocates of women's suffrage. They state that if such tactics are continued the prospects of next session's bill will be gravely imperilled. December 14. A deputation from the National League, which/ is opposed to women's suffrage, asked the Prime Minister to take a referendum before legislating. The Prime Minister said that, while he opposed the referendum, he thought that in this instance it might satisfactorily be used, because the question cut athwart all party lines. v. December 15. In the course of his reply to the deputation from the. National Keague of antiSuffragists, Mr Asquith said that if a referendum of men alone were taken the women would resent their verdict. Personally,' he was convinced that the franchise for women would prove a mistake of a very dusastrous kind. He felt it was time that those holding strong views should take off their coats and put the case against suffrage cogently before the public. December 17. Addressing the Women's Liberal Federation,' Sir E. Grey said that so long as women were deprived of the vote the representation of the people would be hopelessly incomplete. Mr Lloyd George declared that the Liberal party had repudiated the referendum on other questions; therefore no Liberal statesman could with decency apply it to woman's suffrage.