HBH 1892 July 19 4 FEMALE FRANCHISE Wellington, Monday FEMALE FRANCHISE I am informed by a member of the Legislative Council who was one of the strongest opponents of female franchise last session that the council will pass the clause in the Electoral Bill giving the franchise to women. My informant states that his views on the question have been considerably modified since last year, and that although he has not quite made up his mind whether or not he will vote for the extension of the franchise to women he will at any rate not vote against it. He considers that whilst on the one hand female franchise will go in the direction of extending the one-man-one-vote principle by swelling the votes of the working classes who possess the voting power in the present Parliament, on the other hand it will ensure the constituencies will not be at the mercy of the floating population but that the franchise will be exercised by the wives and daughters of the genuine settlers of the colony. The position of the Council is, however, somewhat peculiar as last year 32 Councillors voted-15 for female franchise and 17 against. Of the 15 two (Mr FULTON AND Mr MARTIN ) are dead, and two (Mr ACLAND and Mr WILLIAMS) are absent from the colony. Of the 17, two (Mr BOWEN and Mr PEACOCK) are absent, and five of the present members of the Council (Messrs MORRIS, OLIVER, SHEPHARD, STEVENS, and SCOTLAND) did not vote owing to absence and other causes. Of those Mr SHEPHARD is still absent through illness, and assuming the votes go as last year there would remain eleven. Messrs: BAILLIE, BARNICOAT, HOLMES, JOHNSTON, KENNY, M'LEAN, ORMOND, PHARAZYN, POLLEN, REYNOLDS, and STEWART for female franchise, and fifteen, Messrs: BOWEN, DIGNAN, GRACE, HART, MANTELL, MILLER, SHRIMAKI, SWANSON, TAIAROA, WAHAWAHA, WALKER, WHYTE, WILLIAMS, Sir Patrick BUCKLEY, Sir George WHITMORE against it, with four doubtful. But as that clause will be settled in committee Captain BAILLIE will be in the chair, thus losing one vote for female franchise, and Mr MILLER, who is against it, will be free to vote, not being in the chair as Speaker. This would give 15 against, to 10 for on the last year's basis. But it is said that Sir Patrick BUCKLEY (as having charge of the Government Bill) and Mr WHYTE, as well as one or two others, will not vote against the clause if they do not vote for it, and that in effect it will be allowed to be carried by a majority of one or two with the aid of the Government.