EXTENSION OF THE BRITISH FRANCHISE

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 20110, 31 March 1928, Page 7

EXTENSION OF THE BRITISH FRANCHISE

HOUSE OF COMMONS DISCUSSES GOVERNMENTS NEW BILL

MR BALDWIN MAKES OUT STRONG CASE FOR WIDER RIGHTS FOR WOMEN

Ucgraph—Per Press Assn.— Copyright.)

(By Radio) KL’GBf. March 29. Sir William Joynson- Hicks, Home Secretary, moved in the House of Coinj-. cns to-day the second reading of i.lie Equal Franchise Bill, which gives votes to women on the same terms as men. II? said that the measure fulfilled what had been for many years the aim of ail parties. It was quite true that the Conservative Party, prior to the year 1832, was opposed to the extension of I ailiamentary refi.un, but since 1832 it had joined witu the oilier parties in various extensions of tlie fianch?se brought before Parliament. Now he had the privilege to move wha.u he thought would be the final re-fj-.iu which would have the effect of giving representatio i to the people of

this country greater and. freer than that of any other democratic country in the world. Every successive alteration of the franchise had been justified by the results. Great social questions wh.ch were every day becoming more important could only be satisfactorily settled when the whole of the people took part in the work of legislationThe New Provisions. The Act of 1918, continued the Homo Secretary, embodied the first measure of franchise for women, but this was on a restricted basis. It was quite obvious that these restrictions could not be permanent, and under the Bill, which ne now presented, the qualifications for the Parliamentary vote would be the same for men and women. A woman who had reached the age of 21 would be entitled to vote, if she had resided for three months in premises of not less than £lO annual rental. It was proposed to give the wife a second vote when the husband had a second vote in respect of business premises, and in order that there should be no inequality on cither side it was proposed to give the husband an additional vote in respect of his wife’s business

premises. In regard to the university franchise, any woman who had the three qualifications—residential, business, and university—could only exercise two votes. Objections Answered. The main opposition to the Bill, said •Sir W illiam, seemed to be on the ground that the control of political power would be transferred from men to women. To-day there were between 12,250,000 men voters and 9,250.000 women voters. It was true that if this Bill were passed there would be a majority of 2,000,000 voters, but they could not possibly say that the Government was placing the representation of the people on the broadest possible basis if it. left 5,000,000 women over th 0 age of 21 unrepresented, in the House of Commons.

He could not imagine anyone at this time of day saying that women were unlit intellectually for the vote, or that their judgment was not as sound as that of men- He referred to the progress of women in all businesses and professions, and to th 6 fact that woman was compelled to serve on a jury. the Alinistcr added that when the Bill was passed there would be about 26,000,000 voters. In order to enable the new voters to vote at the general election, which must take place next year, a new register would be prepared on the basis of three months ending December 1, 1928, as the qralifying period, lhe new register would come into force on May 1, 1929.

Mr Philip Snowden, for the Labour Party, supported the Bill. He said that his party from its inception hai been whole-hearted in its support of political equality of the sexes. Ho

complained, however, that this Bill maintained some of the objectionable features of the existing law, including the dual qualification. Conservatives* Divided. Brigadier-General Sir Gcoroge Cockerill, on behalf of a section of the Conservatives. moved the following amendment: —“That this House declines to accord the second reading to the Bill, which, while adding 5,000,000 persons to the existing electorate, and giv- g to women a permanent majority in the constituencies does not deal wilh other vital questions connected with the franchise, or follow the constitutional practice of accompanying the extension of the franchise by u measure of re-dis-tribution.”

Lieut-Colonel Applin (Con.) said the Bill ought to be left to a free vote of the House or postponed for a mandate from the country.

Lady Iveagh appealed to the House to pass the Bill ungrudgingly. Air E. Harmsworth (Con.), opposing the Bill, described it as a pose for the Socialists, a conundrum for the Liberals, and a snare for 'the Conservatives. It would weaken the prestige of Parliament and lower the Government’s authority.

Sir Lucas Tooth (Con.) speaking as tho youngest member of the House, contraverted the suggestion that young •women, were incompetent to

Sir Charles Oman (Con.), opposing tho Bill, said it had done more to break up the Conservative Party than anything since the war. It seemed to suggest that Cabinet included not only hot heads but cold feet.

Captain R. A. Eden (Con.), a constituent of Sir Charles Oman’s, regretted 'the latter’s speech, but said Oxford University was always tha home of lost causes. “Diehards’ Swan Song.” Lady Astor (Con.) congratulated Air Baldwin on not heeding the shriekings of the wild Press. The amendment was the “diehards’ swan song.” They might be singing like swans, but they were thinking like geese. Air Baldwin, summing up the debate, said the Government in this Bill was asking Parliament to fail into line with Australia, Canada, New Zealand and tho United States. Two or three generations ago the franchise was a privilege—to-day it was a right. In view of the part women played in the war it was ridiculous to refuse their claim to equal citizenship. He thought it a complete fallacy that women. would vote by class and sex. They would be divided exactly as men. “Wc men have not always taken a rational view of women,” he said. “We arc apt to put her on a pedestal or plunge her into the pit. Once the Bill becomes law the last fraction of the truth of inequality will be gone for ever. I used to vote against the women’s suffrage, but the var taught ime many things. I learned, I hope, to see' such things as wealth, prosperity and worldly success, in the proper proportion, and realise that to build up the broken world half the human race is not enough. We must have th 0 men and the women together. ’ ’ The Bill was then read a second time by 387 votes to 10. The result was loudly cheered from all quarters of the House, and tho Bill was committed to a committee of tho whole House. Those who voted against the Bill were all Conservatives.