The Suffrage

Kai Tiaki : the journal of the nurses of New Zealand, Volume 01, Issue 4, 1 October 1908, Page 121

The Suffrage

With the near approach of the general election, women in New Zealand, who will have the privilege of voting according to their own judgment, should be brought into closer sympathy with their sisters in England, who are striving so hard to obtain their political rights. The manifestation in Hyde Park, on June 21st, which was the response to Mr. Asquith's challenge to women to show that there was a real demand for the franchise, was so well got up and organised that it had the effect of converting many opponents ; notably, three leading newspapers : The Morning Post, the Daily Graphic, the Daily Express. It was entirely managed and directed by women, and as successfully as anything of its kind that has been attempted by men. There were ten thousand women, representing all classes and all callings ; and grouped according to their professions and occupations, and each company carried a beautiful silk banner. There were doctors, lawyers, musicians, artists, nurses, writers, teachers, gardeners, typists, factory hands, representatives of women's political societies.

The procession was led by Mrs. Henry Fawcett, L,.L,.D., Lady Frances Balfour, Miss Emily Davies, the founder of Girton College, I^ady Henry Somerset, and Miss Anna vShaw. The most distinguished women speakers of the United States, Dr. Garrett Anderson led the women doctors ; Mrs. Bedford Fenwick the nurses. The banner of the nurses was carried by Miss Pearse " The nursing section of the procession received a measure of sympathy as it passed, not only because the people of London recognised their indebtedness to those who care for them in sickness, but also because they perceived on the banner the magic name of Florence Nightingale, and the word " Crimea" which was added, with the permission of Queen Victoria to the arms of " the Lady of the Lamp,' ' as if the heroine of the Crimea had been at the head of a regiment. From the crowd rose cries of " Ah, there is Florrie !" and " Good old Florrie !" or again, " Three cheers for Florrie," and the old veterans saluted tenderly the banner which awakened in them the memory of their first campaign, and the work accomplished among them by a woman. Naturally quibbles were not lacking : Thus one spectator cried as the banner passed " She is much too good for you," but received quickly the retort, " wait, we shall soon see what you will say when you are ill." — From La Guavde Malade Hospitaliere.