WOMEN'S RIGHTS.-THE CAMPAIGN AT HOME.

White Ribbon, Volume 15, Issue 179, 18 May 1910, Page 8

WOMEN'S RIGHTS.-THE CAMPAIGN AT HOME.

An Appeal to Mr Asquith. Hepresentatives from the New Zealand Women’s Christian Temperance Union and the Canterbury Women’s Institute, recently met at Christchurch, when it was agreed to forward to the Eight

Honourable 11. 11. Asquith, Prime Minister, ilit* following letter authorised by the Union and the Institute: -

To the Kight Honourable 11. 11. Asquith, Premier of Kugland.

Sir, —There are liuman exigencies, fundamental necessities, which sweep away all barriers of time, place and circumstance between tin* meanest subject and the highest tribunal of the laud. Mindful, therefore, of our responsibilities as members of the British Kmpire, we, representative womeu electors of New Zealand, feel construiiud to address tin* Premier of Kugland on a subject of vital import to the race. The basic British principle of the right of free petition has been violated, and the results of that violation have been such as to leave an indelible stain on the British Government.

It is with deep horror and indignation that the women of New Zealand at last apprehend the extent and significance of the barbarities inflicted on Knglish women in prison for the suffrage cause. We learn with shame that women convicted and unconvicted, women whoso offences were wholly rooted in political principles, and in many cases merely technical, have been treated with a coarseness and cruelty surpassed only in the dungeons of Kussia. We learn that resistance to penal conditions deemed to be unjust has been met with blows, insult and barbarous violence. We learn that women, driven by these conditions to the extreme protest of self-starvation, have been subjected by Ministerial orders to a dangerous, nauseating and hideously painful process ostensibly inflicted to preserve life. In our opinion such treatment is in reality un art of despicable persecution. \\ e learn that women were, in the first place, reluctantly driven to breaches of the law by their uttei failure to obtain satisfaction by constitutional forms of appeal. We learn, in fact, that the consideration theoretically promised to all his M ajesty’s subjects is not extended to women, who are thus show n to be ou the footing of serfs in the eyes of his Majesty's Government. These judicial outrages were inflicted ou earnest women of spotless character, not by autocratic tyranny in a semi-savage country, but in the heart of the most enlightened Kmpire in the world, under the most progressive (rovernment that perhaps ever held office in Kugland. Can anyone fail to draw the obvious inference? Nowhere ou earth can the interests of women be safeguarded where Parliament is not as fully responsible to women as to men.

As women we are pleased, as British subjects we are humiliated, to know that these cruelties have not gone unregarded but have provoked remonstrance from

many parts of the world Nowhere, how - over, should abhorrence of the atrocities be deeper than in New Zealand, tho first country to grant its women the franchise —New Zealand, where the benefits of the equal vote have been enjoyed for seventeen years of peace, prosperity and honour. Now here is Imperial patriotism warmer than in New Zealand. Nowhere is the honour of Britain held more dear than in New Zealand. Nowhere, therefore, has sympathy with the general humanitarian work accomplished or proposed by your Government, been more cordial and sincere than in New Zealand. Consequently, in no other part of the Kmpire should there he more amazement at the cruel and illogical attitude of your Government towards women, for what body of electors would more readily forward humanitarian legislation than enfranchised women ? We can have no doubt as to th** final issue of the struggle. Ami we submit that it will be to the lasting credit of your Government to vindicate the honour of Parliament bv righting in the only manner possible the wrong which has been done.—We are, etc., Kaxny Cole, President New Zealand Women’s Christian Temperance Pnion. Margaret Foster, President Canterburv Women's Institute.