ENGLISH GIRLS SLANDERED.

Gisborne Times, Volume XLIX, Issue 4862, 7 May 1918, Page 6

ENGLISH GIRLS SLANDERED.

MAYOR OF OHRISTOHUHOH IN TROUBLE.

A HUMORi OUS MEETING

Press Association Telegram. CHBISTCHUIiCH. May G. A meeting called to protest against remarks made at Amberly recently by Mr Holland (Mayor *of Christchurch), in which lie advised departing soldiers not to bring back English factory girls as their wives, was held to-night in the Trades Hall. The meeting was disorderly throughout and the proceedings were decidedly humorous. The'chairwoman called for speakers whereupon a lady mounted the platform and harangued the audience at some length on the English girls and women, who did not .spend their husbands’ < money, the “poor little Belgiums,” and a number of other subjects. During the course of her remarks she stated that the costume she had on was five years old —(wild applause). A resolution was put by a returned soldier: “That this meeting demands a public apology from the Mayor for his slander of English girls,” and amid considerable uproar the motion was declared carried. A further motion: “That this meeting go up to the Mayor’s house and make him apologise right away” was defeated, the principal opposer stating that if they did go to the Mayor’s house there would he forty thousand police about and the news- ! papers would say it was a disgraceful scene. A lady member of theaudience then suggested that the meeting should go up in a L.dy-like manner — (Laughter). It was decided to demand a public apology through the press. A female voice: Through Sir James Allen. A number of people then attempt-ed-to speak together and there was considerable disorder, above which the voice of the chairwoman could be heard vainly demanding peace. Eventually a committee was elected to deal with the matter, one of those elected being the returned soldier who moved the first resolution. Upon his declining to be one of the committee he was__jviolently narangued by a woman in "the audience, but eventually, on the voices, it was decided to allow him to retract. The meeting then adjourned.