SUFFRAGETTES SENTENCED.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 36, 1 February 1908, Page 2

SUFFRAGETTES SENTENCED.

ANTHER NOISY DEMONSTRATION.' Received 31st, 4.23 p.m. London, January 30. Suffragettes made a noisy demonstration outside the houses of the lions, llaldane, Gray, Sinclair, Hareouit, Burns and Birrull. They expressed their extreme disgust that women's suffrage was not mentioned in the King's Speech. Seven arrests were made, and four were sentenced to six weeks' in gaol.

DEPUTATION to MR. ASQUITH. Received 31st, 9.4!) p.m. London, January 31. The Hon. 11. Asquith informed a National Union and Women's Suffrage Societies' deputation, which was headed by Mrs Henry Fawcett, and Lady Francis! Balfour, that, the question of female suffrage was not'prominently before the electors at last election, and that the Government was unable to sacrifice any urgent measures entrusted to them for the purpose of initiating such a great change during the present Parliament. Such ai proceeding would be unjustifiable, even if Cabinet was unanimous on the question, which, he remarked, it was not.

The Daily News recently urged the Lilieral Party to boldly concede the demand for women's suffrage, which, is says, would lie only an elementary act of justice. Ministers' lives have been made fairly mistrable during the recess; at all their meetings they were unmercifully heckled by the advocateof women's rights, and no doubt, as may be inferred from Mr. Tlaldane's admission, the time is not far distant when a measure will be introduced in Parliament giving the women the concession they have fought for with so much energy. During the course of a speech at West Leeds in November, the Home. Secretary. Mr. Gladstone, was greatly annoyed by the suffragettes. He pointed to the inclusion of domestic servants in the Workmen's Compensation, Act, and to legislation with respect to laundries, as proof that the Government had treated women with every consideration. He asked the women of England to get together. (A voice: "Here we are!" and great uproar.) "You are, not," retorted tlii- speaker; "there are thousands and tends of thousands of women in this country who desire the franchise, but won't raise a finger to get it so long as these ridiculous measures are going on." At this point there was more interruption, originating in that part of the hall in which Miss Adela Pankhurst was the solitary female figure. There were erics of indignation at her frequent interference, and these led to some counter cries and general uproar. After this had continued for some little time Mr. Gladstone abruptly sat down, remarking, "f am not going to struggle against the absurd measures that have lieen adopted." A female voice at the back of the room: "Then withdraw your opposition to our demands." I