3 FEBRUARY 1917, Page 3

We agree with the recommendations of the Conference, taken as

a whole, but we feel most strongly that the present Parliament was not elected to carry out Female Suffrage, and that there ought to be an a.:-peal to the electors before this part of the pro- gramme is adopted. There is another matter which we deeply regret to see. was not discussed at the Conference, though it is one of the utmost importance, more important than any of the reforms :recommended—the question of the Referendum or Poll of the People. This is a reform in our Constitution which, in our opinion, is needed in the interests of a true and beneficent democracy. There ought in every Constitution to be a possibility of veto on the electoral vagaries of a representative House. If not, we are always at the mercy of the log-rolling arrangements of minorities, and often small minorities, for paseng legislation by means of agreements amongst them- selves. "I will help you to roll your log if you will help me to roll mine."