LIVELY WOMEN'S SUFFRAGE MEETING.

Evening Post, Volume XLVI, Issue 43, 19 August 1893, Page 2 (Supplement)

LIVELY WOMEN'S SUFFRAGE MEETING.

A meeting of the women's Franohiso League, held in Christchurch last Friday evening, became remarkably animated when a speaker gave his views for opposing the granting of suffrage to women. Mr. H. A. H. Duval got up to speak in answer to the chairman's invitation for discussion on a motion of the Bey. P. W. Fairclough, who had talked about the inalienable right of humanity, which of course, included women to vote. Mr. Duval said : The women's place was at home (Hear, hear.) What had they to do with politics ; who.", did they know about them ? (Loi-d interruption ) Let them and their daughters look after the household work. (Female voices :8o they do.; That was the duly of women. (More interruption.) He had made it his business to watch the homes of those women who go canvassing and tulking on public platforms. (Loud laughter.) Look at such women's children ; were they looked after as they should be? (Ohs ) The women should be at home looking after them. (A female voice :Of course ; while her husband's at the public-house, eh? Laughter.) lam not an upholder of drink, but women were never intended by Almighty God for this political business. (Laughter.) It's against your Bible. St. Paul tells you she is the helpmeet of her husband, aud her business is to stay at horn*. (Loud laughter and further

interruption.) I ask you whether the ladies here would not be better employed if they were at home looking after their slumbering children ? (Kenewed laughter.) Perhaps some of them have their childeren locked up at home and their husbands away. (Cries of " Shame " from the women.) I am of opinion that this movement to give women the franchise is only got up by a clique — (Dissent and " Noes ")— and of the 27,000 women who signed the petition I don't think all of them are genuine. (Cries of " Dry up," etc , from male members of the audience, and strong dissent from many women in the front seats.) Before the Bill is passed the matter should be tested at the election. A woman — I wouldn't like to be your wife" — Laughter, and, when this subsided came the rejoinder from the back of the hall, " and I wouldn't like to be your husband." — (Increased laughter.) Mr. Duval attempted to say more, but his effort was drowned by the noise and he sat down, jeered at, hissed, hooted, and applauded. By a coincidence he left the hall as a lady got up to speak, and this action provoked more laughter at his expense.