THE SUFFRAGETTES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume L, Issue 15306, 20 May 1913, Page 7

THE SUFFRAGETTES.

ST A EL'S" PARIS HOME. ABUSE OF HOSPITALITY. MR. DILLON'S BROKEN WINDOWS. By Telegraph.—Press Association.— London, May 18. It is reported that the Foreign Office has drawn the attention of France to the fact that Miss Christabel Pankhurst (who has resided in Paris since last year to avoid arrest) is abusing the hospitality of that nation by conducting a criminal campaign. When the women who smashed the windows of Mr. John. Dillon (exLeader of . the Irish Nationalist Party) were being tried, Mr. Dillon said that he heard his window smashed, but that he did not trouble to ascertain the cause. One of the prisoners asked whether Mr. Dillon signed the petition in favour of giving Sir Starr Jameson full political rights. . Mr. Dillon replied in the affirmative. Asked whether he approved of Sir Starr Jameson's famous " raid,"'Mr. Dillon replied, " That was rebellion. Militancy is disgraceful. Ido not consider rebellion disgraceful.".

A " League of Justice" women's suffrage organisation, has been established. The members pledge themselves not to give monetary or personal aid to any institution, and to boycott professional men and tradesmen who do not support female suffrage.

FIVE MILLIONS A TEAR.,

The damage to property caused by the suffragettes during the last three months is estimated at upwards of £1,000,000. To this sum, says a cablegram published in the Australian papers, last week, must _be added the increased cost of protecting certain lives and properties. Each member of the Cabinet is at all times guarded by detectives, and all suspected persons are being shadowed by plain-clothes men, while special protection has had to be provided for public' buildings. Figured out at this rate, the activities of the suffragettes are costing the country something like £5,000,000 a year. The cablegram adds: The suffragettes intend to enter upon a campaign of even greater violence in order to avenge the defeat of the Suffrage Bill, and the central organisation has declared that all previous outrages will be eclipsed." The Daily Mail, in a leading article, suggests that the suffragettes might secure all that they are striving for by organising a woman's parliament or a senate elected on representative lines by the women _ of the whole country. Although lacking executive authority, such a body, it is pointed out, could draft measures and acquire so much influence that its recommendations could not be lightly disregarded by the Legislature.