BRITISH POLITICS.

Colonist, Volume LI, Issue 12494, 22 March 1909, Page 3

BRITISH POLITICS.

UNIVERSAL SUFFRAGE BILL,

[Press Assooi/Vtion— Copyright. ]

(Received March 21, 4.30 p.m.) London, March 20. In the House of Commons the Hon Geoffrey Howard's Bill giving a vote to every man and woman of full age was read a second time by 157 to 122. _ Mr Asquith was not unsympathetic. He stated . that the Government _were not of one mind on the question of female suffrage, though they favoured an extension of the franchise, hut as such changes should come from-.a responsible Government he would not vote for the second reading- ■".- .

.Suffragists both militant and nonmilitant, repudiated the Bill on the ground that it would add 15 million to the voting list and. so prove revolutionary,, and also that it would postpone the grantiug of equality to the soxes indefinitely. -.

An anti-suffrage . petition, signed by 243,552 women, has-been presented tothe House ofCommons.