The New Zealand - elections favour the Radicals. There, at least, the
women's vote has not trimmed the balance in favour of the Conservatives, as Lord Salisbury and Mr. Balfour fondly, and we believe vainly, hope that it would do in England. Fifty-four supporters of the Government have been returned to 14 of the Opposition and 2 Independents. It is said that a good many representatives are pledged to a Local Option Bill giving to a bare majority of the inhabitants of any district a veto on all alcoholic drink-shops. In other cases, the vote has gone for such a veto, but not without a two-thirds majority. And this increase of the Temperance party is supposed to be the women's work. The women did not apparently think of general politics, but only of the par- ticular change in which they were most deeply interested. If that be so, women's votes would add immensely to the weight of the faddists, as they may be called ; in other words, to the political weight of groups who care infinitely less for wise administration and legislation in general, than they care for the victory of a particular propaganda the effect of which they understand, or suppose that they understand, and earnestly desire.
Previous page
