LIVELY MEETING OF WOMEN

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3060, 23 April 1917, Page 6

LIVELY MEETING OF WOMEN

SYMPATHY MOTION DEFEATED. Br TeleEi'ftpli— Prces Association. . ChriStfihurcn, April 21. A meeting of Ghristcliurch women called by the .Canterbury branch of the Women's National Reserve was held to-day to appeal to miners' wivcg particularly, and womenfolk generally, to use, their influence to endl the miners' strike. There was an attendance of about one hundred. The meeting commenced in an orderly manner, but d section of antwonseriptionists submitted a hostile motion, and at one time feeling ran high. The president of the branch moved: "That members of the Ohristchurch branch of the Women's National Reserve wish to express their sincere sympathy with the wives of the miners on strike. Only women know how in such a crisis it is the wives and the children who suffer most-.. They venture the hope, 'also, that the wives of the miners will use their influence with their husbands, to persuade them to reconsider their decision; to remind them that the war is in a large measure a war to vindicate the rights of women and children. The brutalities of the Germans to the women of Belgium would alone (apart from other horrors) justify the war, and the cause of the Allies should appeal to the chivalry of the men as well as to their love of justice and freedom. .. . . In thenloyalty to their leaders the men torget another and higher loyalty to their own hearths and homes." _ One of the anti-militamts moved the following amendment: "That this meeting of Christchurch women sends greetings to the wives; mothers, and sisters of "the West Coast miners. We wish you success in your noble, stud disinterested fight against military absolutism, and we invite you to enter into arrangements whereby you shall, with vour children, enjoy the hospitality of pur homes throughout the duration or this struggle." \fter angry protests from the back of the hall, the motion was carried by a huge majority. . , During the singing of the National Anthem at the close of the meeting the disaffected -portion of the audience remained seated. '