LONDON REFORM CLUB

Evening Post, Volume CXIII, Issue 7, 9 January 1932, Page 6

LONDON REFORM CLUB

WOMEN TO BE ADMITTED

Women are at last to be admitted to the Beforra Club in London, which has been sacred to men for a century, states a London exchange.

Extraordinary scenes marked a recent meeting of members when it was dacided by a two-to-one majority that women should be admitted to tho club on Saturdays: and. Sundays. For several years women have battled for admission to the dub, and the fight 'became more insistent after Miss Megan Lloyd George, MJ?. } dined' there as a guest in 19SJ9. Three years ago a member moved a resolution that women should be atUoired At the dub during week-ends, but only a few members of the 12QQ supported him. ; Last year the question, was resur.mcted. Members were still "horrified. 1' 'Only eight members voted for the proposal. Since then strenuous attempts have been raada to revive the question, and' a ; special committee of members was appointed to thrash'it out. : ' A general meeting was called for 24th November, iifter all members had been circularised. More than 200 wero present. Aftoir- a /stormy meeting lasting for over an hour the decision to admit women was' carriedyby? 95 votes to 41. There ,-sjwere,l u»precedented scenes whea it cnHie to the question of voting. There was shorrting and cross-talking, and a satiiif actory. vote, could-not be taken on tlie show of hands. ',' In the end the votel waa taken in Parliamentary fashion. L The "Ayes" filed out into one corridor and the "Noes" into another, where, after sometime, they were counted. Many .did,; not vote.When: the result was made known there was, a further, demonstration and a petition...waa ■ at, once, presented by. one of the older members. 'It was signed by a score oJ' supporters and called for a poll on tHe question. As a poll ia on|y allowed at the annual meeting and at extraordinary general meetings, it was ruled out o£ order by the chairman, Mr. Bird. • i '

"It was one, of the; mast exciting; meetings that I have over seen is the Reform Ci'ubj**. a member said. "Women will be allowed at the club foe tea and dinner on Saturdays and for lunch and dinner on Sundays. "It has been felt that this has been necessary for a long; time, as the club is usually desolate over the week-ends." The Keiotm has- had many noted [members. One. figure that emerges from the oill days is John Bright. In recent years Mr. Lloyd George, Mr. Churchill, and Lord Melchett have been members.