The Gisborne Standard AND COOK COUNTY GAZETTE Published every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday Morning. Thursday, August 27, 1891. WOMEN’S FRANCHISE.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume V, Issue 652, 27 August 1891, Page 2

The Gisborne Standard AND COOK COUNTY GAZETTE Published every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday Morning.

Thursday, August 27, 1891. WOMEN’S FRANCHISE.

Be just and fear not; Let all the ends thou ftim'nt at be thy country's, Thy God's, and truth’s.'

The extending of the franchise to women may, from the division in the House, now be taken to be an assured thing in New Zealand. The Bill has further stages to pass through, but there appears to be such a large majority of both Houses in favor of the principle that there can be little doubt that the extension of the franchise will soon be a law of the land. It is a measure which sooner or later must have been carried into effect, and the main thing upon which there has been disagreement was as to whether the time was ripe. In taking the lead in this matter New Zealand’s experience will be closely watched by statesmen throughout the world, so that when women are granted the privilege of voting, as we believe they soon will be, they will recognise the more than ordinary responsibility resting upon them. We have always heartily approved of the extension of the franchise, and we pleasurably hail the near consummation of the measure for which Sir John Hall has so persistently worked. The Government is to be congratulated on the desertion from their ranks of the bitter Mr Fish. Legislators who can be guilty of his vulgar conduct in reference to this measure are better in the ranks of one’s opponents than working as a friend. Strong opposition to the reform would in itself be perfectly fair, but opposition of the kind which appears tc be congenial to Mr Fish, who was ever fond of notoriety, lowers the tone of the House. In “ratting” from the Government side Mr Fish may gain all the notoriety he deserves, but he will find he is strengthening the position of a Government that will not allow itself to be made sport of in the way the Fish class would like.