EXCITED WOMEN.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 1729, 23 June 1917, Page 1

EXCITED WOMEN.

’ There was a particularly lively meeting of the National Council- of Women"in Melbourne last week. This organisation has certain international relations, and the ■manner in Avhieh in future it shall conduct itself towards German women has been causing some perturbation. So a Mrs Spencer moved: "That the. National Council of Women of Victoria expresses its determination .to hold no intercourse in future with any body of women in Germany or Austria-Hungary, unless those bodies have shown their abhorrence of the actions of their men.'’ The motion caused a storm. It was pointed out that an "international council” dealt with all such matters, and that the meeting had no right to consider such a resolution. But this view was dissented from, and the chairwoman vftis induced to allow the discussion to proceed. *The supporters of the motion, who obviously had the great majority of the meeting with them; referred at length to (he sufferings of the French and Belgian, women in the territory occupied by the Germans'! Germany was outside the pale of moral law; they might as well try to make friends with his Satanic Majesty as forget and forgive Germany. Then a courageous woman Miss Sara Lewis, appeared for the defence. German women, she said, had no liberty. They did much good, in their own way, and we had muclito learn from them. (Dissent and disorder). If they followed the golden rule . Then pandemonium broke loose. The holy was invited to “sit down,”, “stop talking rubbish,” etc., and there was continual uproof. Not to be silenced, Miss Lewis shoaled, “If you consider those women .have not our privileges you will not send this motion out as an expression of the Australian opinion.” But (he uproar grew, and the chairwoman had to ask .Miss Lewis to sit down. Then there was a long and bitter wrangle as to whether it was legal to discuss the motion. The chairwoman, after some hesitation, said earnestly, "1 really think I am out of order in allowing you this discussion. But the discussion continued, climbing from bitterness to wrangle, and from wrangle to pure disorder. When calm was momentarily restored, opportunity was taken to adjourn the meeting for a week. r l l he motion is not yet disposed of.