§ Order of the Day for the Second Reading read.
THE EARL OF CAMPERDOWN, in moving that the Bill be now read a second time, said, the Bill was another step in the direction of the emancipation of women. Its object would be found in the Preamble—
Whereas in the Act thirty-two and thirty-three Victoria, chapter fifty-five, it is provided that in that Act, and other Acts of Parliament therein recited, whenever words occur which import the masculine gender, the same shall be held to include females for all purposes con- 1929 nected with and having reference to the right to vote in the election of Town Councillors in England; and whereas it is expedient that in this respect the municipal franchise in Scotland shall be assimilated to that of England.He knew of no reason why the females of Scotland should be placed in an inferior position to the females of England; therefore he asked their Lordships to give the measure a second reading. He might add that there had been no opposition to the measure in the other House of Parliament.
§ Moved, "That the Bill be now read 2a".(The Earl of Camperdown.)
§ Motion agreed to; Bill read 2a accordingly, and committed to a Committee of the Whole House on Monday next.