Women fined for disorder

Press, 11 February 1986, Page 9

Women fined for disorder

PA Dunedin Four women who attempted to disrupt the “Miss New Zealand” show on Saturday evening were each fined $75 when they appeared in the District Court at Dunedin charged with disorderly behaviour.

They were Catherine Helen Clark, aged 21, assistant clerk; Tania Jeanne Earnshaw, aged 22, librarian; Miranda Catherine Millais Harcourt, aged 23, actress; and Lucy Jean Harvey, aged 18, unemployed student

They each pleaded guilty and were fined $75, with costs of $35 each. The police prosecutor, Sergeant Alan Bremner, said Clark left her seat in the Regent Theatre, where the contest was being staged, shouted abuse at the contestants,

and had to be forcibly removed by the police. Earnshaw threw a piece of offal on to the stage and shouted at the top of her voice, distressing some of the contestants, he said. Harcourt shouted out "shame” and Harvey yelled obscenities at the audience, saying they were all chauvinists. Each woman addressed Judge Blaikie. They said they were protesting against the exploitation of women, and believed contests such as “Miss New Zealand” perpetuated the “women as pieces of meat philosophy.” The Judge said he accepted that the women’s views were genuine, but it was necessary to penalise them, as their actions had transgressed from peaceful protest to disorderly behaviour.