VOTES FOE WOMEN!

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 13672, 13 February 1908, Page 5

VOTES FOE WOMEN!

THE GENTLE SUFFRAGETTE RAID ON THE COMMONS. FIFTY ARRESTS MADE. By Telegraph.—Press Association.—Copyright. (Eec*ived February 13, 12.36 a.m.) London, February 12. A conference of suffragettes is being held at Caxton Hail, the delegates representing all parts of England. Mrs. Patrick Lawrence is presiding, and associated with her are Misses Pankhurst and Kennedy, well-known leaders ot the movement, It was unanimously resolved to demand the introduction immediately of a measure to extend the franchise to women, and to appoint a deputation to see the Prime Minister (Sir Henry Campbell-Bannerman).

While the meeting was in progress a previously arranged raid on the House of Commons was developing. A pantechnicon van stopped at the entrance of St. Stephen's (the House of Commons), and its back doors swung open, and the 30 suffragettes emerged and endeavoured to storm the entrance. .

The police arrested 20, and the rest were repulsed. A second vanload met with the same fate.

Contingents from Caxton Hall then arrived in quick succession, with the intention of compelling 150 arrests, but lack of spirit on the part of the militants and the determination of the police to effect only necessary arrests, totalling ' 50, defeated the scheme.