BRITISH CONSERVATISM AND THE PRIMROSE LEAGUE ... - ideals

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Financial and minute records indicate a relative, rather than
an absolute decline in the operations and income of the Primrose League
between 1902-14 when compared against the 1888-1892 levels of activity.
During the First World War, minute and financial records suggest a
continually diminishing level of operations, measured in both economic
and social terms, most functions appearing to serve national war relief
efforts.
Thus, the income generated during the 1914-15 Primrose year
was relatively generous, £6,723, as compared with the sums received in
1916-17, £4,929, and 1918-19, £3,992. The fortunes of the Grand
Council and the League revived somewhat in the 1920's, revenues reached
£6,769 in 1920-21 and £6,148 in the 1929-30 Primrose years. However,
Knights' and Dames' Tributes continued to decrease to £2,149 and
£1,747, respectively. 20
The diminishing role accorded the Primrose League was
exacerbated by the extension of the parliamentary franchise to women in
1918 and 1928. The 1918 measure entitled women to vote provided they
were over thirty and qualified in local elections by owning or occuping
land or premises worth £5 a year, either in their own right or through
their husband's holdings.
Ten years later women achieved electoral
parity with men.
Perhaps even more important, in terms of the future
vitality of the Primrose League, was the granting of representation to
women in the committees and delegations of the National Union roughly
in accordance with their electoral strength, thereby obviating the need
20
Minutes of the Grand Council of the Primrose League, 4
February 1915; 15 April 1915; 2 May 1916; 7 April 1917; 26 April 1917;
2 May 1918; 3 April 1919; 24 July 1919; 14 April 1921; 8 May 1930.