Mr. Asquith introduced on Monday a Bill to extend the
life of the present Parliament for eight months—that is, from Septem- ber 30 next, the limit last imposed, to May 31, 1917. He also ex- plained the provisions of the Bill, introduced on Tuesday, to establish a new Parliamentary register. The existing register, which came into force at New Year, 1915, and is based on the qualifications obtaining on July 15, 1914, is admittedly obsolete. Millions of the voters have gone abroad to fight for their country ; vast numbers have left their homes to work in munition factories. But so long as the war lasts, it is impossible to frame a satisfactory new register. Mr. Asquith declined to consider any proposals for a new franchise, such as to give votes to all soldiers and sailors or to extend the suffrage to women, on the ground that this was not a time for political controversy. He preferred simply to preserve, as far as possible, the qualifications of the electors who would in the normal course be on the register.
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