INVERCARGILL CATHOLIC LITERARY SOCIETY.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XII, Issue 13, 18 July 1884, Page 27

INVERCARGILL CATHOLIC LITERARY SOCIETY.

At the meeting of the above Society, held in the usual plaoe, on Tuesday, Bth July, two candidates were balloted for and elected, and two proposed for membership. The programme of the evening opened with a debate, '• Should the Franchise be extended to Women." Mr. D. Bradley opened with a short but brilliant speech in the affirmative. He contended that to grant the privilege of women recording their votes at Parliamentary elections would be doing what was right, and what was right was just, and it was not justice to that sex to deprive them of one-half the privilege that a few of them enjoyed at preßent— namely, that women possessing property could vote for town and county councillors ; and why, in the name of common sense, deprive them of the privilege of voting for members of Pailiament ? They took an interest in such elections, and it was beyond a doubt than their power of reason was as great as that of the sterner sex ; therefore it was with pleasure that he moved the privilege be granted. Mr. Crowley, in supporting the motion, expressed himself in favour of extending the franchise to all women over 21- years of age. He concurred in what the previous speaker had said, and supposed the only argument that would be brought against it would be the old worn-out one, " that it would create domestic trouble." The idea was preposterous, and only an invention of some narrow-minded creatures, or, in other words, woman-haters. Mr. B. Bradley would oppose the motion on the grounds that women did not and would not take such an interest in Parliamentary affairs as would lead them to record their votes in an intelligent manner. They would be too easily biassed, and he was greatly afraid that they would support a man of good looks in preference to a man of common-sense. He considered that that of itself was quite sufficient to deprive them of the privilege of voting for Parliamentary candidates, and, notwithstanding Mr. Crowley's assurance to the contrary, he was inclined to believe domestic arrangements would not run so smoothly as at present. Mr. Lawlor said that politics was altogether out of their sphere, and it would be a bad day for New Zealand the granting of the request. Married women had quite enough to do to attend to domestic affairs, and the unmarned could better their position by learning a lesson or two from their married sisters, which would be the means of educating them for married life— something he considered better th.in stump-speeching the country on the woman's rights ticket. Mr. J. lleid would grant the privilege to women of property and widows ; there would bj no uw in drawing the line ac the age Mr. Crowley bad mentioned, for the fact of the matter is uo unmarried' lady would acknowledge that she was over 21 years of age. Mr. Cussac was opposed to the motion, not because of being a woman-hater, nor because of the dread of domestic troubles, or their inferior knowledge, but bimply because that when placed in authority they are the greatest tyrants imaginable. Take, for instance, the good Qaeen Bess, the virgin Queen Elizabeth as she is sometimes called. She is an example of what might be expected of granting the woman's lights, and there are others not much less tyrannical than Elizabeth herself that I might mention, but it is noc necessary, as I am sure the majority have made up their minds to keep them ia their proper places and out of politics. Mr. Mclntyre was in favour of the motion, and hoped such a privilege would be granted soon, as he thought the women would put an end to all the public-houses in the Colony, as they suffered greatly by their husbands' money being spent in the public-houses instead of spent in comforts for their families. As to those who bad opposed tue motion and those in the background egging them on, he could safely say that outside they were the greatest ladies' men by doffing their hats, and cringing and so forth, and in here out of sight they would not support a motion to place them on an equality with themselves. Mr. Mulligan was opposed to the granting of the franchise to women. It wouLd lead to corruption and whac not, and instead of having men of common sense elected to represent us we would be represented by a lot of noodles and lady-killers. Mr. O'Brjen would favour the motion because he considered the ladies of nowadays were equally as intelligent as some of the members who had spoken against the motion. Mr. Bradley having replied, the motion was carried by a majority of one. — A programme having been arranged for the 22nd, the meeting closed in due form.