MARTYRS TO THE CAUSE.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXIX, Issue 170, 17 July 1908, Page 5

MARTYRS TO THE CAUSE.

IMPRISONED SUFFRAGISTS. HOME SECRETARY'S STATEMENT. LONDON, July 16. In the House of Commons last evening, Mr. Herbert Gladstone (Home Secretary) informed Mr. J. G. MacNeill (Nationalist member for Donegal South) that the suffragettes imprisoned for disorderly conduct had been placed in the second division, but were receiving the same diet as prisoners in the first. They were in separate confinement for 22i hours out of tue 24. Any suffragette, he continued, could secure release by giving security for good behaviour. He was unable to recommend the exercise of th. prerogative in ,these cases. Mr. Gladstone added, in reply to Mr. W. Redmond, that the suffragettes were taking exercise, and were being kept apart from ordinary criminals. FIRST-CLASS MISDEMEANANTS. (Received S a.m.) LONDON, July 16. Messrs. Robert Pearce, Liberal member for (Stafford, Leek Division, and C. 11. Corbett, Liberal member for Sussex, are initiating a bill in the House of Commons to provide that women and girls sentenced for political offences shall bo treated a s first-claftk misdemeanants except in cases where' damage to property or grievous bodily harm is involved.