The Taranaki Herald PUBLISHED DAILY. WEDNESDAY, JULY 20, 1892.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 9447, 20 July 1892, Page 2

The Taranaki Herald PUBLISHED DAILY. WEDNESDAY, JULY 20, 1892.

I Apart from the usual and unimportant controversies which party Government seems necessarily to clothe in bitterness j of spirit, the most important, question now before the Legislature is that of woman suffrage. Though brought under the consideration of the House last i session by Sir John Hall, and then debated under his supervision, we now find the Government have introduced a clause into the Electoral Bill, giving women poiver to vote at elections, and intend to carry the bill through this session if it is possible to do so. There is every reason, therefore, to suppose that " woman's suffrage " will become law this session unless the Legislative Council again see fit to delay the operations of such an organic change in political controlling power. We do not pretend to predict the consequences ef snch a change. It is to some extent a leap in the dark, and whether we shall light on good solid ground or be engulfed in a political bog, time and experience only can tell. It shows weakness rather than chivalry on the part of a masculine Parliament to surrender half their power for the future. Whatever the result may be, we may ! reasonably conclude that a Parliament selected by men and. women will not be likely to act with less regard to the moral law, which is the cement that binds society in a state of civilisation, than the present Parliament which has been returned by the old and young men of the community. We think that the exercise of woman's vote will be slow in operation so far as creating any social change. Women are more influenced by social laws and observancy, and by religions opinions than men are. Therefore it may be taken for granted that they will not knowingly do anything that will offend public opinion ; on the contrary it is probable that their votes will be given in the direction of strengthing social law and the moral obligations of society. It is just possible that in time now social laws will bo formulated and become one of the tests of fitness for election to Parliament, We can quite imagine one of the first taking this shape '• Thou shalt not allow alcoholic liquors to be sold within thy gates." And it is possible that men in the future will be told many things that " thou shalt not do." Therefore what we fear in the distant future is that men, who after all have to be depended on where nerve asd physical power arc required in cases of emergency or national peril, may rebel against thelaws they have had partly forced on them bj the majority of the electors consisting of women and effeminate men. If such move takes place, and the backbone of the nation violently displaces feminine Government, as it could easily do when fighting became the order of the day, it is possible that woman suffrage would be abolished for a long period until wiser councils prevailed. If, therefore, woman suffrage becomes a practical factor in law, we hope the weaker portion of the community will deal gently with thek protectors, and not try to cut down masculine tendencies in accordance with feminine aspirations. We hope they will not allow themselves to bo utilised by ideal effeminate faddists who seek to regenerate the human race ia order that cold wator and evangelical exercises of a noisy order may becomes necessary parts of a creed essential to political salvation. If

women will exercise their vote judiciously without materially withdrawing themselves from the seclusion of domestic life, we caa imagine that their influence in the ballot box will be beneficial to the State. If they become ardenfrpoliticians and canvass and be canvassed for votes, we fear that they no more than men can avoid, under present condition, from becoming tarnished with political demoralisation. The exercise of political privileges in a prope" spirit is no doubt a high function of the individual members of a State. But this exercise can only be the result of a proper conception ot the true functions of Stite Government and the right line of action on the part of the individual to secure that action. Avoidance of party ticket and mass voting, and the exercise of properly framed individual opinion, is the onl} cure for State folly, and he or she who desire to raise the State to it 3 proper position ought to work in that direction. We fear, however, that men and women will for a long time be to» much acted on by the fervour of the political cries of the noisy, and will not take the trouble to enquire what is the right thing to do and form an independent judgment accordingly. The result "will be that Parliamentary opinion will be as diverse as that of the constituents, and as wanting in coherence, resulting in weak councils and weak legislation. Mr Murray, Inspector of Schools, has just completed the checking of the pupil teachers' examination papers. The result will be placed before the Education Board at their meeting on Wednesday next. The examination, it is understood, is highly satisfactory. There were 25 candidates for the examination, of which number 22 were ladies. At the usual fortnightly meeting of the Loyal Excelsior Lodge, Independent Order of Oddfellows, on Tuesday night, four new members were initiated, and two were ) admitted at the preceding meeting. The | • six members are all young, being under 22 years of ago. The value of the plentiful water power in this district is being rapidly realised, judging by the number of turbines that baa beon made recently at Mr Okey's foundry. The turbines have been made for butter factories, and private separators; and orders have even been received from the Auckland district; Messrs Lattey, Livermore, & Co. have added the name of Messrs Joll Bros., Waitara, to the list of agents for the salo of their Indian to 8. We have received a copy of the New Zealand Methodist, which has been rodu^ed in price to a penny. By the last 'Frisco mail a letter was received by the relations of Jack Hempton, the champion amateur sprinter, now at Home with the New Zealand Athletic Team. Hempton accounts for his indifferent display by stating that lie was " stale," the change of climate being undoubtedly the chief factor in bringing about the change. Mr Robinson, a blind man, is now canvassing New Plymouth for subscriptions for the Auckland Institute for the Blind, where there are now some twenty pupils from all parts of the colony undergoing a course of instruction, which is not confined to mere reading and writing but a thorough education is given. Mr Robinson is himself prepared to give lessons to any who are afflicted with blindness. Tho Auckland Herald writes thus of Dr. Lucas, who lectures in New Plymouth next week :—": — " The lecturer gave a racy and humorous lecture, describing the social and religious condition of the Indians among whom he had laboured. Ho described the method taken by tho Canadian Government of dealing with the lands of the aborigines, of civilising and instructing them- Specimens were given of their oratory, ani the lecturer said that Canada contained no more loyal people than the Indians, A gentleman in commercial circles in London, writing to a friend in Auckland, says :— " It is the opinion of everyone here that New Zealand is going to have a prosperous time, and that investments shouUl bo made in your colony. I have a great inuiy enquiries about Now Zea land, and give the applicants every information I possibly can." " English as she is wrote " is always adding to its collection of good thinge. We all know of the advertisement, " Loft an umlrella by a gentUman with an ivory handle." And in this sort the possibilities are endless — " a bay pony the property of a nobleman with a long tail ' ; " a rosewood piano wanted by a lady with good lega "; ad infinitum. Evidently the mania has caught n police court reporter, for the other morning we were told of •' a ballet-girl being charged with attempting to commit Buicde by swallowing a iuantity of laudanum through a love affair." That (remarks tbe St Janns'B Gazette) must be rather a nice way of taking laudanum. Some people like to spoculate as to the pleasanteet way of putting an end to themselves. But if lovo is as sweet as is said, it can make even tin's vory nauseating drug palatable And so love makes the world go round — in maro senses than one.