BRITISH POLITICS.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume L, Issue 12561, 14 July 1910, Page 5

BRITISH POLITICS.

WOMEN'S SUFFRAGE BILL

( United Press .Association —Copyrights

LONDON, July 12

In ths House of Gomrrons the Right Hon. R. B. Hfildane, in supporting Mr J. Shacivleton's Suffrage Bill, dwelt upon pressing rocial questions wherein women's voico in Parliament was indispensable.

The Right Hon. W. H. Long and Mr H. Bailee opposed the Bill, while tho Right Hon. A. Lytteltori, Lord Hugh Cecil, and Mr J. K. Hardie supported it.

A division is expected to-night

He-reived July 14, 12.30 a.m

LONDON, July 13

In the House of Commons Mr Shackleton's Bill was read a second timo by 299 to 190.

Mr Churchill denounced the Bill as anti-democratic.

Mi* Asquith urged the maintenance of distinction of sex as lying at the rcot of the Parliamentary system. If female franchise wera granted, th© democracy would insist on a real, not a. sham, equality, and adult male and female suffrage should follow, giving the- majority of women the vote.

Received July 13, 11.10 p.m

LONDON, July 13

In the House of Commons Mr Balfour supported the extension of the suffrage because true democracy meant Government by consent, which was ab ssnt when an important section of women complained of their disability owing to their exclusion from the franchise. Mr. Lloyd-George condemned the particular form of franchise proposed. Mr Austen Chamberlain strongly opposed female franchise. A motion to send the Bill to a Grand Committee instead of to a Committee of the whole House was rejected by 320 to 275.

"Tho Time's," 'In its political notes, says the promoters of tho Bill recognised tnat tho debate had gone very much against them. So damaging was the effect of some of the. p-s&eches from both front benches against the Bill, that some supporters who voted in favour of it subsequently characterised it privately as an abominable Bill.

The " Daily, News" admits the defects of the Bill, but contends, like tlie "Chronicle," that the debate has greatly advanced the suffrage cause.