QUESTIONS OF FRANCHISE

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LV, Issue 17454, 31 December 1930, Page 8

QUESTIONS OF FRANCHISE

INDIAN CONFERENCE > DISCUSSION BY COMMITTEES (British Official Wireless.) Rec. 2 ]>.m. RUGBY, Dec. 31. Many aspects of the franchise question Were discussed by the franchise sub-committee of the Indian Confer-, once. During the discussion the* view found general favor that the franchise commission might; consider the introduction of nn international qualification of a satisfaciory standard, provided this Could be done without conflictiou with the recommendation that an extension of the franchise should be distributed os far its possible equally among the different communities. It was also agreed that 1 lie commission might lie asked to consider whether the military service qualification should not be extended to include service in military and territorial forces in India.

The question of women’s franchise also was discussed, and the women delegates asked that the recommendations on this subject made in tbe statutory commission’s report should be given effect to, except that they desired the qualifying age to be 21, instead of 25 years. The subcommittee generally expressed dissatisfaction that the number of women voters was small compared with the number of male voters, and thought the franchise commission should examine methods whereby the numbers might be made to •approximate closely, arid in so doing should take into account, together With any other evidence, the proposals of the statutory commission. It also thought that the commission might examine the disparity which it suggested existed in cei\ tain provinces between urban and rural enfranchisement. In regard to the extension of the franchise, it considered that the matter was one in which the provinces’ legislatures might; exercise discretion as to what extension should take place after a period of years. A meeting of the North-West Frontier Province sult-crimmift.cc heard a statement bv Sir Denys Bray, of the Indian Council, based upon personal and administrative experience of the Frontier Province. With a view to focussing the discussion, tho chairman undertook..to.prepare a report.