SOCIALISTIC "MARTYRS."

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXXX, Issue 12053, 22 December 1906, Page 6

SOCIALISTIC " MARTYRS."

Miss Lizzie Ahem and Mis .iw..-, .• . two of the Prahran lady •'Sochiliols." who each "took out* 7 an alternative ot Ui d in Melbourne Gaol rather than pay «t hue of 303 impend on them at Prahan Court on Oc-fcober 29^, have oeen relating their experiences. Miss Ahern's gaol experience (tlio Argus says) was depicted in gicy tones. The goal bedding was "ugly-look-ing grey blanket, not too clean." Break-tV-t waa served in an "ugly-lookifig vessel, not too clean." The bread was "grey and ugly-lo 'king." The gaol itself wad "grey," and exercise wn,s taken in a "grey" yard, and there was a "grey, utodgy look" aboiu everything. "1 tried to eat the hominy," declared the speaker. "Lut after one table-c-poonful I tKdn'fc tiy a sacond ene." Miss Ah'ern severely criticised tho re^t of the gad menu, and was severe on thd soup. It was imrossible to tell whetlier the meat supplied was beef o: mutton 0 , the speaker said, and nobody was able to cut it with a knife and fork aupphed. "You coujd take the mer.t in your hands and pull it that length," said the eceafcer. with illustrative action: "it in all sinews." The potatoes, i?iipi:liecl luvl never spen water." The goal literature supplied wa» spoken of aii "trash, *im]-.ly an insult to thinking men and women." Miss Ahmern stated that her requeet for something more tolid ami intellectual was met with* the reply that they didn't kc^p socfdlistic hoola thore. ll'os Ahem stated that tho sanitary arrangements of the gad were simrly'a disgrace to any -human socioly. Mrs Anderson also detailed her gaol treatment at length, and spoke sti <v T>frlV in condemnation of the tood supplied to vrieoners. -