§ 16. Mr. PETHICK-LAWRENCEasked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether his attention has been called to the speech of the Home Member in the Burmese Legislative Council, in opposing the enfranchisement of Burmese women, in the course of which he said that the question could only be considered by the Statutory Commission; and whether this is the view of the Government?
§ Earl WINTERTONI have not yet received the official Report of the Debate in question, but have seen a newspaper report. The question at issue was not the enfranchisement of women, who already have the vote in Burma, but the removal of the sex disqualification for candidature for election to the Legislative Council. If the report I have seen is correct, the Home Member (who, I may observe, is a Burman) did not say that the question "could only be considered by the Statutory Commission." He opposed the motion on behalf of the Government on the ground that it was premature, and might well await the Statutory Inquiry.