WOMEN’S SUFFRAGE AND THE CABLE NEWS

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 8734, 16 May 1914, Page 11

WOMEN’S SUFFRAGE AND THE CABLE NEWS

To the Editor Times.” Sir, —Will you kindly publish the following letter from Miss Harriet V. Newcomb, hon. secretary pro tem. of tho above union. Tho letter clearly shows tho injustice of tho conspiracy of silence with which tho woman suffrage movement has to contend, not only in Britain, hut in the Dominions. Thanking you in anticipation, I am, etc., , ANNA P. STOUT. Wellington, May 13th. WOMAN SUFFRAGE UNION, BRITISH DOMINIONS OVERSEAS. (Sent to all Women’s Societies in New Zealand and Australia.) Dear Madam,—At a meeting of the executive committee of the Australian and New Zealand Women Voters’ Association (London), hold on December IGth, at 87, Victoria street, AVcstrninster, when I gave some account of my recent visit to Australia and New Zealand, tho question arose of the unsatisfactory character of the news concerning the suffrage movement in Britain which is transmitted by cable to the Australasian press. ‘lt was resolved. that tho manager of the chief agency (Australian Associated Press Cablegrams) should bo approached, and asked to receive a deputation from our association to discuss the matter with him. The deputation was. to consist of Miss Hodge and myself, who could speak from personal experience of the' uniformly mistaken impressions con- 1 cerning tho suffrage movement which wo found, current in every part of Australia and New Zealand, and of two other members of our associarlon, who,' resident in London during our absence, could testify to the number of interesting and important events connected with the movement which had taken place during that time, of which do notice, or very inadequate notice, had' been sent to tho Australasian papers.

I regret to say that the manager of the cables has refused to receive our deputation. He promises to consider 1 any complaint made in writing, but he declines to discuss tho matter with us. In tho interview I had with him, to ask that our deputation might bo received, he said that his only business was to send out nows which ‘would interest tho general public, and that as they had woman suffrage in Australia and New Zealand, the question in Britain, apart from the sensational incidents, had' no interest for them. Besides, except for these incidents there had been really nothing of importance to cable. I send you with this letter a copy of “Votes for Women,” January 2nd, j!914, which contains a history of the .’suffrage movement in Britain for the past year. Similar summaries have appeared in all the suffrage papers, (but I have chosen this one because of (the clearness with which an exceedingly complicated story is told, because jof the. calm with which the details of Cruel wrong and injustice are related, (because of the impartial view taken jof tho work done by the different parties in the suffrage army. These qualities render this summary of the iUtmost importance to readers far re(moved from the scene of conflict.

Will you please .bring the paper and this letter of mine before the notice of the members of your organisation, land ask them to compare the impression loft on the mind after reading the [summary with that which has been created throughout the year by a perusal of the cablegrams. I know that tome of your members are subscribers to “Votes for 'Women,” but I- send [this copy as they may not have theirs bandy for reference I Secondly, will your executive take (the necessary steps to acquaint the editors of your newspapers with your opinion regarding the cablegrams. Tq ’say that the Australian and New Zealand public takes no interest in a. (movement of such momentous importance to the human race, except in the reports of a few sensational “out|rages,” is to take a singularly low (view of the intelligence of that public, men as well as women.. But editors Ere not to blame in their mistaken (view of our intelligence. It is our fault for not keeping them informed, ilf every woman’s society in Australia land- New Zealand will, protest, the edri tors will bring the necessary pressure to bear on their representatives in London. A grand step forward will thus be taken. For this withholding ,of truth, which demands thought from the reader and the substitution for it of sensationalism, which panders I to laziness of mind and low views of jlife, is one of the characteristic vices of the press at the present day against Iwhich women all over the world must fight. Undoubtedly the most important part of the work to be done by the Woman Suffrage Union, British Dominions Overseas, will be tbe uplift, jng of the press in each of the Do, piinions, and the leaders in this duty pro the women of Australia and New Zealand, who already share equally with the men the responsibilities of jthe government of the State.—Yours faithfully, I HARRIET v O. NEWCOMB, * Hon. secretary pro tern, Woman Suffrage Union, British Do-, minions Overseas, i International Women’s Franchise; Club, London January 9th.