The White Ribbon. For God and Home and Humanity. WELLINGTON, DEC. 18, 1918. WOMEN IN PARLIAMENT.

White Ribbon, Volume 24, Issue 282, 18 December 1918, Page 9

The White Ribbon. For God and Home and Humanity. WELLINGTON, DEC. 18, 1918. WOMEN IN PARLIAMENT.

Eor over a quarter uf a centur> woim-n have been electors in this Dominion without having the right to be elected to Parliament. A Bill was brought in by Mr McCombs to give women the right to be elected, but before it reached its second reading, Mr McCombs secured- a vote in favour of this reform by moving an amendment to the Legislative Council Amendment Act. The Legislative Count il refused to adopt the amendment on the ground that it was quite irregular and unconstitutional. The Bill went back to the Lower House, when the Premier asked the House not to insist upon its amendment. There was a short discussion, and then the House by a thirty to eighteen vote agreed to the Premier’s suggestion to drop the amendment. The

Woman’s Societies of Wellington sent a deputation to Sir Franc is Bell, and several Unions also wired protests. The reply received from the Prime Minister was: “In reply to >«>ur telegram of th«’ seventh, I am not «*o l>osed to women becoming eligible for election to Parliament; but as leader of the House of Representatives, I cannot consent to a most important constitutional question as this being decided on i side issue without proper notice and without full <<>nsid eration. ” Mr Speaker ruled that Mr McCombs amendment was quia* in order, so that th'* Premier was really < ailing into question a ruling of Mr Speaker. The stalwart eighteen who voted against the Premier’s motion to drop the amendment allowing women to be elected to Parliament were: Messrs Anstey, Craigie, Dickson (Chalmers), Ell, Fraser (Wellington Central), Hornsby, McCallurn, McCombs, Pari. Payne, Poland, Sidey, Smith (Tara naki), Stewart, Sykes, Talbot, Witch, and Wright. We shall have more to sa\ upon thi* subject in a future issue, but we think th.it the earliest possible opportunity should be given for members to vote upon this subject. The Government should, at the earliest ooportunit\ either bring in a Bill giving women the right to be elected to Parliament, or they should give every facility for Ihe Bill introduc ed b\ a priv.it'* membet to become law.