THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. WEDNESDAY, MAY 23, 1906.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXVIX, Issue 8145, 23 May 1906, Page 4

THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. WEDNESDAY, MAY 23, 1906.

Many people in this country will watch with interest the progress of the movement at Home to secure the franchise for females. The Prime Minister (Sir Henry Campbell-Han - nerman), when renently waited upon by 550 women, who presented a manifesto, representing 150,000 signatures, declared that "the deputation was conclusive evidence ofr an irrefutable case," Up to this point the large deputation was, no doubt, satisfied with the reply, but when Sir Henry went on to eay that the Government were not united as to the expediency of acting in the matter, and that he must, therefore, preach patience, his observations were very naturally hisseJ. if the case is irrefutable, as the Prime Minister declares it to be, it is certainly a little "lame" for Sir Henry to preach patience, and it would seem to be a policy fraught with no little danger to himself. The British Prime Minister, more by good luck than good guiding, ie at the head of a very large party, which has the sympathies of the masses, and it is a party thai is bent on effecting

various reforms, and unless be manages to fairly quickly cure his "lameness" tbe possibility of his having to retire ftom a prominent position in tbe political race before he is inclined to do so does not appear to be very remote. Tbe London Times —a journal that always possesses a most remarkable fund of information in regard to tbe Australasian Colonies—says that, before venturing upon women's suffrage, England bad better wait the results of the great experiment in Australasia. This adviee ia certainly calculated to make one smile. Our own Premier would possibly be surprised tu learn that "a great experiment," so far as female suffrage is conoerned, is in course of progress in this country.