Women’s Lib. lost

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 33033, 28 September 1972, Page 18

Women’s Lib. lost

For 24 minutes last evening, the fate of Women’s Lib. hung in the balance while the latest skirmish in the battle of the sexes was fought out. Women’s Lib. lost. The Canterbury Mountaineering Club — a bastion of “male-only” membership for almost 50 years — was equally divided over a one-woman invasion of the club’s fortyeighth annual meeting last evening, and it took the casting vote of the chairman to bring about a strategic withdrawal — almost.

The trumpet sounded when, part-way through the agenda, a club member (undeniably male) entered the room accompanied by a young woman (most certainly female).

The “foreigner” took a seat at the back of the room and almost immediately the club president (Mr B. L. Pattrick) was faced with a motion “that the female be removed from the room.”

An immediate amendment, “that the female non-member be asked to leave the room,” was agreed to by the scout who had first espied the enemy.

Reinforcements rallied to the flag of the young

woman, and it soon became obvious that the 60 members present were equally split in opposite camps. Further verbal broadsides were delivered

before supporters of the invader suggested that all non-members be asked to leave.

An uncommitted party reminded the combatants that such a move would affect the neutral Fourth Estate and “The Press” reporter would also be bound to leave. The amendment was lost.

The campaign returned to the original motion, which was finally put to the vote: 20 for, 20 against, and the remainder crossed their arms.

Mr Pattrick cast his vote in favour of the motion and the young woman was asked to leave amid calls for a recount She remained firmly entrenched. The request was repeated, but still there was no sign of retreat

Then a member of the executive said that if the young woman would not leave he would call the police.

Still no sign of action from the young woman — until the club officer made towards the telephone. She left — and so did two members.