On Tuesday, during the report stage of the London Bill,
Mr. Courtney moved an amendment declaring that no person should be disqualified by sex or marriage from being elected an Alderman or Councillor. The amendment, which was supported and attacked with the usual stock arguments, was ultimately carried by a majority of 35,-196 to 161. Though we have no sympathy whatever with those who desire to extend the Parliamentary suffrage to women, and do not believe that the British people will ever agree to such an unnecessary revolution, we hold that the House was right to allow women to sit, as well as vote, on the subordinate municipalities of London. Probably very few will be elected, but those who are may do useful work on administrative matters. Mr. Courtney also moved an amendment intro- ducing proportional representation for the election of Aldermen, but this was resisted by Mr. Balfour. We view his failure here without any great regret, but are extremely sorry to see that he did not carry his proposal to allow any one qualified to sit in the Council of a borough to be elected as Alderman in another borough. Surely that is a mistake. Aldermen ought to be administrative experts selected to give extra force to a Council, and so the choice should be as little limited as possible.
Previous page
