RAID ON THE COUNCIL CHAMBERS.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 2319, 23 August 1921, Page 3

RAID ON THE COUNCIL CHAMBERS.

during council meeting

MAYOR, COUNCILLORS, PRESS AND ENGINEER. BOMBARDED

AND BADGED

BUSIN ESS TEMP OR AM LY SUSPENDED.

VICTORY FOR THE FEMALE FLYING SQUADRON.

At about 8.45 o’clock last night, a number of ladies were seen to assemble in the vicinity of the “Herald” Office, and, after a brief consultation, moved off in close formation down Main Street. The main body was preceded by three down-cast-looking males, who looked as if they would like to make a dash for liberty, but an advance female leader held them in check. Constables Owen and O’Donoghue, who were®on duty in Main Street, scanned the company with suspicion, and held a • brief consultation, after which they immediately proceeded to the station for batons. The squad proceeded to the shed, which does duty as a Council Chamber, where a halt, was made. The sound of voices was audible from die inner chamber, where the city fathers were discussing matters of grave public importance. The front door was quietly opened, and Hie raiders passed,,in, leaving two to guard the outer door. A knock at die inner door was answered by the mild voice of the Mayor to “come in. 1 ’ The door was opened, and before the Councillors had time to realise what was happening, they were completely encircled by a cordon of the Hying squadron. The look of astonishment and surprise on the faces of the “City Fathers” ir? beyond deseri|>t.ion. What did it all mean? Why this unceremonious and unprecedented intrusion by a band of females into the Council Chamber during session? The Engineer and Town Clerk were hack lo the wall, the scribe held bis pencil aloft and drooped his head in anticipation of the worst. The Mayor alone Diced the situation with courage and a smile, as becomes a lady's man. It was then explained that the Hying Squadron had determined to enlist the sympathy of the Council in the effort to establish a St. Helen’s Hospital, and the training of nurses for suffering motherhood, and to assist the piloting of “the little boat from o’er the. sea.” The Council capitulated, and the outfit got to work amidst much merriment, to pin a badge on each city father, with a promise of practical support to the Flying Squadron-in its effort on behalf of New Zealand’s greatest asset.