District News

Horowhenua Chronicle, 14 May 1914, Page 2

District News

EVENT'S JN SHANNON

(By our licsideut Representative)

DEBATING SOCIETY

The first meeting- 0 f the season of the Shannon Debating Society was held in the Druids' Hall on Tuesday evening. There was a large attendance of members, and the president (Rev. J. A. MeKen- ; y.'wj occupied the chair. The Mlowing new members were e Mrs D. Mitchell, Messi'f. v- ; !; wood and John owl .id'.-i.; The debate i«»i- i.,. . -,-ci>• i.;_v on ihe proportion ji M : - tics oJ: tlie militanl suilrax iJ *>s have not benefited the women s. movement." Mr Selby said that as he was coming to the meeting with Mr Trainer the latter told him that ihey need not hurry, and told him the story ol the two men who were going to be hanged. One said to the other: l '\Ve need not hurry as do anything with,iUt lls - But he could assure that if Miss Doull and himself were to be hanged they would not- be beaten. He was not against the extension of the franchise to women, but against the tactics of the "shrieking sisterhood led by 31 rs Pankhurst. I his lady had been imprisoned tor her tactics, and the consequence was that the movement, spread rthrouglioiif Lancashire and other parts of England. If the W.S.P.T. had only preached the gospel of women's suffrage wiihoui the militant methods they would have enlisted many more than they had on their side. As it was, the movement had attracted many of the. aristocratic ladies besides crowds of others; but they had ceased to use the force of argument, and had resorted to the argument of force. The party had been disintegrated in consequence, Mrs Fnweett and Mrs Pankhurst being at issue. There was very little method in the madness of the militant suffragettes, but much madness in their methods. They had alienated the support of Mr Asquith and Mr Lloyd George. The militant suffragettes were the greatest opnonents of the women's franchise movement, and had made the movement lose its soul. The average Englishman could hot be persuaded by violence, and the taffies of the militant suffragettes killed their own cause.

Mr J. J. Trainer said there ivere two sides to every question. Fie had tried to approach the mater in an unbiased manner. He (intended that-the militant suf-

I nineties were bound to win. They had tried for the last forty years to win by constitutional means, and now they were goading- Jolm Hull to wake up and realise- that Uiey were in earnest. It was generally admitted that in order to got the average linglishman to think about any movement it was necessary to begin bv shooting a Bishop or some other person of distinction. As the old lorkshire inau put it, "There's nothing convinces like a clip on the lug.." The men who condemned the siiffragettes would applaud the doings of their forefathers in their fights for freedom. It would appear that the courage of our forefathers had descended to the militant sutlragetfes. He contended I hat the' present laws of Great Britain were unjust to women, who wore not "represented. Women were (tut for the franchise, and they were going' to get it. The militant suflragettes had as much right to draw the sword as the militant men of Ulster. Mi' ( hurehill had said that Ulster had ihe alternative of the ballot or (lie bullet. but the militant suffragettes had no alternative; therefore they wore quiet right to use the bullet. (Concluded on page 4). Residents of Shannon have a strong inducement to buy their drapery, clothing and boots locally when they have a stock like Fargher and Co.'s to select from. A good assortment of well bought goods, at a fair and reasonable price, makes good everv time.— Advt.