The Wananui Chronicle AND PATEA-RANGITIKEI ADVERTISER "NULLA DIES SINE LINEA." THURSDAY, AUGUST 11, 1892.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume XXXVI, Issue 11609, 11 August 1892, Page 2

The Wananui Chronicle AND PATEA-RANGITIKEI ADVERTISER "NULLA DIES SINE LINEA." THURSDAY, AUGUST 11, 1892.

In the next week or two the people of the colony will follow the proceedings of both Houses of Parliament with active and eager interest. They are tired of talk,' but they have not lost interest in action. The two' measures big with fate, for the Ministry and for thecolony — the Electoral Bill and. the. Land Bill— are now before the' Legislature.. Hoy* they will' finally emerge from the ordeal' of Parliamentary Committee inquisition it is impossible : to say. A few weeks ago it, was confidently asserted that the all-important clause in the Electoral Bill — that conferring the Eranchise upon the women of the colony— which haa passed the Lower House by a majority or three to one, would be certain to secure a bare majority in its favour in the Upper House. The Colonial Secretary, who proclaimed himself a strong opponent to the proposal a short year ago, had seen ■ fit to change his mind, and was known to have expressed his perfect willingness to shepherd the clause through the Chamber, while sundry other erstwhile opponents recognising how strong is the feeling among the people of thecolony in favour of- the reform allowed it to be understood that they would refrain fromopposing it. Now', it is reported that a change has come over the feeling of some of the unstable Lords. Several of the waverers have gone back on their recently expressed intentions, with the result that it is believed the proposal will be defeated by a larger majority than on- the previous occasion. The majority,- it is said, have, now come to the conclusion tbat such a vast change in the law. should not be finally decided upon until after the country has had an opportunity of fully considering and pronouncing upon it at a genreal election. Another operating reason which, however, is net publicly proclaimed, is that the admission of womankind might prejudicially affect the prospects of tho political party to which the objector belongs. Now, as to the first objection. It si'rely cannofrbe said that the country has not had ample opportunity of expressing its will on the subject or that it has failed to do so. The members of the present House of Representatives, when before their constituencies j some eighteen months ago, did not keep the question in the background,- and when last year Sir John Hall submitted his brief reforming measure the support it | received opened the eyes of the small minority of members to whom it was unpalatable. During the recess the members who supported Sir John Hall were not called to account by the olectors for I their action, and neither were tbey asked to withhold their support in tho future. Indeed, the Premier, who always watches which way tbe wind blows, felt so persuaded by the popularity of the proposal among the people generally that he introduced it into the Electoral Bill put forward by the Government. And what was the result. Why, that the woman franchise clause was carried by more than before. The fact has not created any alarm. No public meetings have been held to protest against it. And so far as the women themselves are concerned, the petitions they have forwarded to Parliament asking for tho franchise have been larger than have ever been presented on any other question. No purpose at all will be served by the Legislative Council refusing to deal with the question until after the general election pave to pos ■? pone for a year or two loneer tbe coining into operation of the reform. The other reason which operates with some wavering supporters— that women's votes might go against the political parties to which tho wavorers are attached — is not at all a creditable one. We say this without regard to the party that might be strengthened or weaked by the oxcerise of the women's votos. ft is said that one or two Legislative Council supporters of the Opposition have gone back on woman suffrage because they |have become convinced that it would strengthen the Liberal candidates in the cities— the reason being that a much large propor tion of women would vote in the cities than in the country, because of the long distances that would have to bo travelled and inconvenience that would be suffered in getting to the polling booths in the remoter country districts.. We are of opinion that, provided wompn voters should feel a real interest in an election contest, neither distance no inconvenience would operate to keep them away from the polls. But tbat contingency apart, we submit that the right of women to equal electoral principles with nien should not be made to depend upon the forecast of the support it is thought likely

thoy will bring to either political party. We have said that, as at present constituted, the Legislative Council is likely to reject the woman suffrage clause. If, however, the Premier is thoroughly in earnest on the question, he can .easily provide for any such probable contingency by nominating tho numbßr of new members to that Chamber that the Governor is known to be willing to appoint. In the same_ way he could make sure of the Land Bill of the Government going through much in the shape in which it may pass the Lower House.