Flings at Things.

Maoriland Worker, Volume 3, Issue 87, 8 November 1912, Page 1

Flings at Things.

The women of Waihi. The wonderful women of Waihi. "Amazons," they are calling them now.

Well, there's nothing derogatory in that appellation. An Amazon is a warlike woman. Boadicea, the Queen of the Britons, was one.

Joan of Arc, the French heroine, was another.

The deeds of both are sung in stirring song, told in deathless story, vivified on glowing canvas.

They have won immortality as grandest, noblest types of womanhood.

So shall the fame of the wonderful women of Waihi live for ever in New Zealand's industrial records.

So have they won glory' as dauntless fighters in the ranks of militant workers.

The pen-hen of the "N.Z. Times" gave vent to a screech the other day at her sisters of Waihi.

Also figuratively got her skinny fingers into their hair and tore it out by hanidfuls.

Then dug her nails into their faces and clawed for all she was worth.

Wailed she: "The uncouth antios of these gentle sympathisers give food for thought."

As she can't "stomach" the actions of the" Waihi women, naturally the "food for thought" didn't agree with her delicate thinking apparatus. She proceeded: "Perhaps more than any other feature of the strike has this noisy, abusive crowd of menacing women served to bring into contempt the men for whom they laid aside womanly dignity and ' self-respect, in order to become publio scolds." Dear, oh, dear! What an elongated caudal appendage our "Times" feline has got. # * * The Wellington "Post,"- too, has been railing at the women of Waihi. "Guerilla warfare by women seems to bo the main feature of the Waihi trouble," it recently moaned. "The principal weapons of the Amazons," it continued, "is the tongue, a two-edged weapon which has turned against themselves,' because these Billingsgate demonstrations have injured the aggressors." Then it prated and sneered about "grotesque clamor," "unseemly conduct," "exhibitions of u'nwomanliness," etc. Which phrases are only what could be. expected from such a highly-cultur-ed, dignified and refined organ of Respectability as the Wellington afternoon daily. * Hypocrisy, thy name is the "Post." • m ■ The meek and, mild aud the unco quid opponents of votes for women and their political and economio equality call the English suffragettes "Amazons" likewise. Any militant body of women is liable to have the same term heaved at them. It is a compliment to their strength of purpose and determination to overcome all obstacles in the path to" gain their goal. By any and every means in their power, no matter how they offend the tender susceptibilities of the Ultra Respectable. You will hear it said that when they were trying to secure manhood suffrage Englishmen did not break windows or do anything out of the common. Rot! Go back to the time of the first great Reform Bill. Over 100 lives were lost at this period, three castles were burnt down, five jails were broken open and their inmates set free. Mud, too, was thrown in the face of the King in London streets, and Manchester was preparing to march on London. This was done by men in the effort to get votes, which they have not got at the present moment. The franchise of England is a degraded franchise, and we trust that the suffragettes will be entitled to be styled "Amazons" till they have won the right to vote for all women.