THE VALUE OF A VOTE.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XVII, Issue 5236, 14 December 1883, Page 3

THE VALUE OF A VOTE.

4. TO THE EDITOR. Sir,— Of quarrelling over the machinery of Parliament there appears no end. There is consequently some proposal to alter the franchise — some political John the Baptist crying in the wilderness " make straight " the electoral ways ! Looking back on the days before tho great Reform Bill, one wonders how the English Parliament and the people managed without these periodical outbreaks. In New Zealand, just now, there" is a great mania for votes, and one phase of this reform cry is — kindly allow the ladies' to v ite ! Generally .speaking, I believe the ladies arc not at all anxious about the matter, but the agitation is abroad, and we may arouse them to make a demand which cannot be long refused. They "plump" so well for the "nice religious" man in our mayoral election. How easily the " religious " difficulty in our State schools might be overcome were the ladies allowed to exercise their influence through the ballot-box at a Parliamentary election. According to Miss Lydia Becker, j every injustice which women have to endure is set down to their unenfranchised condition. Does Parliament interfere where it ought to stand aside, or stand still when it ought to move ? Do judges pass lenient sentences on wife-beaters and heavy sentences on wayward wives ? Do the Universities close their doors to women, and are they excluded from employments suited to them ? Are they overworked ? Are they underpaid ? And are their lives often weary and full of wretchedness ? Then give them votes, cry the lady-elected mayor and his friends, and all these things will be changed at once ! Alas ! I cannot be so hopeful. It is no gain to have the country governed by ignorant electors, and a day may come when those who have so far lowered the franchise will see that their work was mischievous. Women, ignorant of politics, and many men ignorant of their alphabet, cannot add much to the wisdom of a nation's councils. But as the " collective wisdom " of the colony is even now not of a very high order, perhaps we shall lose but little if the ladies are allowed a vote apiece ! — I am, &c, Y.

BIwW