Women under the Franchise Bill: Restricted Powers of Married women: The Franchise and Registration Bill, which was introduced and read a first time by Pease on the 17th inst. in dummy form, is now in print. All women who are interested in their powers of public usefulness should make a point of getting a copy of the Bill, and of studying its provisions with the utmost care. … … The wording of this Act made it clear to some revising barristers that a married woman must also be qualified to be an elector to these bodies, since, if she could not be an elector because she was married, she would be disqualified from candidature. In accordance with this interpretation (which seems to be the only reasonable one), married women had in some cases succeeded in getting their names place on the local government register and in one instance at least, that of Mrs. Hume Pinsent, the well-known authority on the care of the feeble-minded – a woman, though married, has become a city councillor. Under the new Bill, however, even these slender possibilities of civic service are to be withdrawn from a woman because she is married is she lives anywhere in England, excepting London … … (continues) … …
Transcribed in whole or part from scanned originals: Presented with or without modified text and punctuation. For absolute accuracy refer to the original newspapers. Source: The British Newspaper Archive.
Referenced
GRO0245 Devonport: Ellen Frances Parker: 1866 – 1949