WOMEN'S SUFFRAGE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXIX, Issue 3762, 23 March 1907, Page 3

WOMEN'S SUFFRAGE.

Lively Processions.

Seventy-Five Arrests.

London, March 21

A great meeting of the Women’s Social and Political Union was held in the Caxton Hall, among those present being a large contingent of' Lancashire cotton operatives clad in shawls and wearing clogs. The speakers condemned the attitude taken up by the Government toward Mr Dickinson’s Women’s Franchise Bill, which was “talked out” in the House of Commons. Sir Henry Camp-bell-Bannerman was urged to introduce legislation on the lines indicated in his own speech on Mr Dickinson’s Bill.

Lady Haberton volunteered to lead a deputation and hand to the Prime Minister a resolution passed by the meeting. The police broke up a procession, which formed in the streets into groups of twos and threes. Soon there were five hundred special constables assembled at the House of Commons, and these had great trouble in resisting a series of the most determined and disorderly attempts ever made to enter the precincts of the House. Numerous skirmishes and unavailing rushes were made by the women, leading to the arrest of small batches.

The police showed the utmost forbearance, and sought to restrict their duties to preventing anything in the nature of a combined demonstration.

Huge crowds gathered in the streets, and were greatly amused at the sight of the would-be martyrs asking to be arrested. Lady Haberton was admitted to the House, but was unable to see Sir Henry Campbell-Bannerman.

Seventy-five, women were arrested, and were subsequently admitted to bail.