WOMEN'S PROTESTS.

North Otago Times, Volume CVI, Issue 13975, 11 September 1917, Page 7

WOMEN'S PROTESTS.

\n 1 i n'|ll ■f■ l|h - A \ ' \ PEfiEEAI/ PARLIAMENT . BESIEGED.. * > I There was a bequcl iih 'August 3to "clamoioui scenes that occurred at the reileTnl l'aihnmeiit House the previous afternoon, w hen a contingent of women df tiie Jknlist Part)'endeavoured to foi." their way into the Chamber as a piotest against the high cost of living, isot < outcut with Hie fust demonstration, tho%omen again Visitoil Parha incut House and peaceably besieged it foi some hours ' Tlieir" vijit, honcver, Was not unexpected: and''the.'autliori-: tics took strategic'slobs,to"dpol l with •the situation, fearing t a repetition, of, the previous' day.'s' Scene,'! Tho a'di vancc guard of 'the rived about 10,30 a,ini,,onlyic|.'find that 'the entry into Parliament..lvas'guartlod .by police constables, somc.htwjcitty '"• number, stationed, at every'door. Admission was' refused'toMlfe' women, as, instructions had been issued.' that aiiy' of tlioso concerned-in Hie, ance, or any who appeared to bo, gathered to cre'ato, a new (listurpancc, were,' not to be allowed to eiite)'.' ',Protests) were unavailing, and flic' itdvaiicJe gparcT entrenched the steps. By eleven o'clock'some 200 women, with a •sprinkling of-men, who acted .apparently as onlookers, wore gathered around .the. main'doors, among' .thorn, being Miss" Adtla,: Panfthiu-st. A cordon of .police..held, ,thc crowd, back, but although • various 'speeches were made and gibes' flung aVtnc Govern-' ment, the proceeding's were Orderly and fairly good-humoured.' Mr' Maloncy, M.P.; Mr BrennaiyM;' Mat -Mat hews, M.P., and'others'.appeared liovt, and again,' speaking to sonicWoiucn, and-after a wuilo'a certain number of the latter gained admittance • with i signed cards, which wcr'o -closely, sc'ru-. 'tiniscd by the Pariianieiiiafy-oillcials; but the great majority- Wire .refused •entry. Undaunted by failure, they 'maintained their position on the steps,

apparently hoping that the police guard might be withdrawn. lAt "oho o'clock,, when the luncheon 'adjournment. tool, place, there were still' : ofar-100 women! waiting.- In tho afternoon 'again the crowd l'o-asscmblcd lind resinned the peaceable demonstration at the. doors oi; Parliament House, only melting away towards the close of the aftoriiopn when the sitting was drawing to its bud.