WOMAN'S FRANCHISE.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13858, 22 March 1907, Page 5

WOMAN'S FRANCHISE.

PROCESSION BROKEN UP BY THE POLIC-K. DISORDERLY SCENES. Pr«Bi Association—By Telegraph—Copyright. LONDON. March 21. (Received March 21, at .10.59 p.m.) Tho Women's Social and Political Union held a niccting in (lie C'axton Hall, which included a large contingent of Lancashire, cotton operatives in shawls and clogs. The meeting cmifXeinned the Government's attitude towards .Mr Dickenson's bill, and called upon Sir Henry Canipbell-ISannennau to introduce legislatiou (in tile lines of his own speech. Lady Hnbcrtoit volunteered to lead a. deputation to hand Sir 11. Campbcllliaiinernian tin* resolution. The police broke up the. procession into groups of twos and threes, and soon tho 500 extra constables assembled at tho llonst! of Commons had great trouble in resisting the most determined and disorderly attempts ever made to enter the precincts. Numerous skinnishps took place and unavailing rushes, leading to I lie arrest of smalt hatches. The police showed the utmost- forbearance, and sought- to restrict their duties to preventing anything in the nature of a- combined demonstration. (Received March 21, at 11.15 p.m.) Tho huge crowds in the streets were greatly amused at tho ivpulil-lje. martyrs asking to be arrested. 1 Lady Hubert on was admitted, to the House, but was unable to see Sir Henry Campbell-Baitaennan. Sevcnty-iiw women were arrested and admitted lo bail.

111 the cou-rso of tho speech referred to in the above cablegram tho British Prime Miuisier said the idea that woman was an outlander by predestination wafl obsolete. Ho would support Mr Dickinson's bill mainly on the ground of expediency. There were many legislative questions on which women's opinions 'were as valuable aa men's, if not irmro so. lie \va3 not enamoured of the bill, which would only enfranchise a small minority of the well-to-do, and ilid not touch in anything like an adequate degree the mass of working women, the working men's wives. The measure was good as far as .it went, and he would vote for it as a declaration that the exclusion of women from- the franchise was neither expedient, justifiable, nor politically right.