THE WOMEN’S MOVEMENT.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 1574, 8 July 1916, Page 2

THE WOMEN’S MOVEMENT.

MISS PAXKHURST’S ADDRESS

There was a large attendance at the Coronation Hall on Thursday evening to hear the address by Miss Adela Pankhurst on “The Real .Meaning of the Women’s Movement.” Mr J. Robertson occupied the chair and briefly introduced the speaker*, who was accorded a vcdS attentive hearing'throughout. ~ M iss Pankhurst said that in England, as all knew, the women had been enthusiastically working for the right to vote and thus have some say in the government of the country. At the present time the women I in England had no rights, they were only considered persons in regard to punishment and taxation. It was to remedy lids wrong that the organisation for the improvement of women’s conditions was undertaken. The great majority of the people did not know that the conditions of women were so bad, and this was largely due to the fact that the newspapers wen* controlled by wealthy men, and it was from these newspapers that a huge number of the people got their opinions. The newspapers generally, in England, voiced the opinions of the wealthy classes, and had consistently opposed any extension of the franchise. The politicians were also opposed to extension in this direction. The rights that the men at present possessed were only obtained by revolutionary methods, and the women found that the only way to further their cause was to make things uncomfortable for those in jtower. It was for this reason that the methods used had been adopted. The conditions of the women in England were very hail. Sixty per cent, of the people live in one or two rooms. She also mentioned the large number of women in England who arc obliged at one time of their lives to become wage-earners. Five and a-half million women in England were forced to earn wages for themselves and their dependents, and their average wage was 7s Od per week, but as they had no political power, their conditions were neglected. More than 00 per cent, of the school children were deficient in some way or other, caused by the bad conditions under which they were forced to live, and 40 per cent, of the people, representing between 12 and 13 millions, were unable to get food and clothing up to the workhouse standard. It was to better these conditions that, the women were lighting, said the speaker, and if it had not been for the war their efforts would have been successful. Miss Pankhurst said that since the war started food prices had risen 59 per cent., and if there wore 13 millions on the verge of starvation then, what must the position be now. The speaker dealt with the operations of the food exploiters and shippers on account of which the cost of living had so much increased. Dealing with the war, Miss Pankhurst said they had been told that women had no part in the war, hut there was no doubt that the women and children wore very great sufferers, and she contended that as they have a great part in the war they should therefore have a say in the making of the wars.

In answer io :i (jucstiun, Miss Panklmivl said Iha I all men in England did not have a vote. It was only a partial franchise, nearly four and a-lmlf millions having; no vote. To entitle one to vote he had to rent and occupy at least one room. Tin l speaker was accorded a hearty vote of thanks for her address.