THE WOMEN’S MOVEMENT.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXV, Issue 16602, 14 July 1914, Page 9

THE WOMEN’S MOVEMENT.

ITS WORLD-WIDE PROGRESS. , ADDRESSES BY MISS PULLENBURRY AND LADY STOUT. * The Alexandra Hall was filled last night by a largo audience, many people having to stand owing to lack of seats, when Miss B. Pullen-Burry and Lady Stout delivered addresses on tho women’s inovoment. Miss Pullen-Burry spoke first, and confined her remarks to the achievements of women in various spheres of activity. In opening her address, she congratulated the dominion on the magnificent work that was being dono by the Plunket nurses, *a movement, sho said, which was an example that could be well followed by tho rest of tho world. Tho decrease of infant mortality had been accomplished h.v the activity of tho women in Montreal, and there was in Canada a widespread organisation of women’s clubs, which i was doing a great work. Government ' positions of all kinds were now being filled by ■women, and in all branches of scientific research women were proving ; their capabilities. Though they could not secure admission to the Bar, they were waiting, Miss Christabel Pankliurst being qualified to practice, but | prohibited. Women’s achievements in j mountaineering, hunting, in medicine I and business were also dealt with. Miss ! Pullen-Burry concluded with references to some unusual positions which women now held, and eulogised the literary attainments and tho educational work of Mrs Annie Besant in India. ; Lady Stout’s speech was entirely in exposition of tho women’s suffrage movement in Britain. She read out a long list of suffrage organisations, explaining the special work of each, and sho dealt at length with tho history of the movement from its earliest days down to the commencement of militancy on October 30, 1905, when Miss Christabel Pnnkhurst and Miss Annie Kenny were ejected from a meeting of Sir Edward Grey’s for persisting in asking him a question about women’s suffrage. Lady Stout accused the Liberal Government of having tricked tho' suffragettes timo after time, and referred in detail to the Bills which had been before the House of Commons! only to be shelved after the second j reading. The window-smashing crusades, and the effects of forcible feed- - ing, were enlarged on, and she declared that tho greater part of tho newspapers of London were deliberately distorting news concerning the movement. She declared that tho bombs used by suffragettes were harmless, and I that no one yet had been injured by one of thorn exploding. A largo number of lantern views were shown, giving portraits of some of tho leaders of the movement, and of some incidents connected with the treatment of some of the deputations. Tho addresses were punctuated by frequent applause, and the large audience was thoroughly interested in tho speeches, which lasted for nearly threo hours.