THE VILLAGE BLACKSMITH.

Wanganui Chronicle, Issue 12856, 14 December 1912, Page 2

THE VILLAGE BLACKSMITH.

TiHE PANKHURST "TREE."

SKIMMED CREAM AXD SEPARA-

TION

SUFRAGE.TTE MOVEMENT

(From our Travelling SR-eporter.)

WAVERLEY, Dec. 13. Mr Sam Pankhurst, ias the result of the paragraphajppea.ring in ,tho "Chronicle" last weeik, is one of the tbest advertised men in the district, and seve^ral outside piapers have reproduced the item, particularly because of the relationship with Mrs Pankhuxst, the great suffragette. This "limib" of the Pankhurst genealogical tree, however, does not only play tunes on the anvil; he has "tiaken off his hat .to the cow," and I gleaned from him fto-day ,that he has some pretty solid evidence in support of home separation. He wias milking 4£ oohvs (the half cow ibeing a heifer almcQt "out"), from which he made1 38 lbs. of 'butter per week as a result of the pan system. He was induced to try the separator, and a miarked increase in the output was observed the first week. He has now only three

cows milking, and the trio are iproduc-

iii... no less than 41£ Lbs. of (butter per I week, or 3£ "lbs. more under separa- [ tion thian 5£ cows were under the "skimming off the .pan," system. The three coiws formed part of the old contingent. I would like to suggest to Mr Sam Plankhurst that he makes an eff ortt to induce - his energetic aunt to come to 'New Zealand, where she would find that butter making was a m'ore profitable inj vestment than smashing windows. This ! reminds me that a few days ago, when in a, PlalimeTston restaurant, I overheard a conversation 'between «• local j lady and one .who- bad xipparently just ' come from Home. The suffragette movement was Tjeing discussed, and the Home lady ©aid that N«iw Zeala-nders ■wereatnt to condemn the forcible method's adopted by the suffragetltes at Home, but they d.id not know the ins , and outs of things. The women of England, she said, were only fighting for the rights possessed ,by their sisters in the Dominion. Many of those <wiho re- ' fused them the franchise iwere not clean living men, who were quite aware

that their political careers would be '.doomed if the women were once given votes; Capitalistic enterprises would l>e attacked j and various systems of

the rich grinding the poor would be altered if the franchise, were extended. "'Mrs Pankhurst.," I heard her say, "was woefully misrepresemted an the Dominion. She was a, noble iw&m'an, with a heroic purpose to do something for the cause, that lacks assistance."

Window smashing and letter 'burning seemed extreme measures to the women of New Zealand, 'but the 'women cif Enigland had been, driven to desperation, and forceful means were rendered absolutely necessary. The lady in question said she hoped Mrs Pankhurst's aim would not grow weaker until th© cause •had been Won. If Mrs Pankhurst has a muficle (anything like fthat of her nephew at Waverley, she must be able to 'hit mighty hard.