THE BRITISH FEMALE FRANCHISE CAMPAIGN.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 18, 4 May 1907, Page 30

THE BRITISH FEMALE FRANCHISE CAMPAIGN.

The suffragettes had the support of Sir Henry Campbell-Bannerman's vote, ot the promise of it, on Mr. W. H. Dlt-kea-Svt'.'s Women's Suffrage Bill, which was unheroieally talked out at Westminster on March 8. The above eartoon pretty accurately indicates the estimation in which the leaders of the movement hold this moral support. The fortunes in the Imperial Parliament of measures for the exten-ion of the • tffrag« te women have been .somewhat varied. When John Stuart Mil! proposed

Female Suffrage in May. 1867, he was beaten by 196 votes to 173. He had, however, in support of his motion, the vote of Mr. Bright. Subsequently, however, in April, 1876, on the second reading of a Women’s Disabilities Removal Bill, introduced by Mr. Forsyth, Mr. Bright addressed the House in opposition to the measure. stating that although he had voted with Mr. Mill he had done so with extreme doubt, and those doubts had been confirmed by further consideration. He said:—"l should vote for this measure if I were voting solely in the interests of

men. I shall vote Yigainst it, I believe, with perfect honesty, believing in doing so I am serving the interests of women themselves.” Women's Disabilities Removal Bills were rejected bv the House of Commons in 1870, 1872,’ 1873, 1874, 1876, 1877, 1883, and 1892. But the majorities against the measure were dwindling, and the second reading of the bill of 1883 was rejected by 16 votes only. The attendance on that occasion was small owing to a State Ball being held the same evening, but more than eighty members had pair-

ed. Early in the following Parliamentin February, 1886—the second reading of a Women's Suffrage Bill was carried without a division, after a motion for the adjournment of the debate had been rejected by 159 io 102. The advocates of the bill were in strong force, while its opponents were off their guard. In 1892 the second reading of a Women's Suffrage Bill was defeated, the numbers being 175 ayes as against 252 noes. At last, on February 3, 1397. a Women's Suffrage Bill was read for the second time after full discussion.