SLANDERING ENGLISH GIRLS.

Taranaki Daily News, 7 May 1918, Page 4

SLANDERING ENGLISH GIRLS.

MAYOR OF CHRISTCHTJRCa ATTACKED. CALLED UPON TO APOLOGISE. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Christhcurch, Last Night. A meeting, which was called to protest against the remarks made at Amberley recently by Mr. Holland, Mayor of Chris tchurch, in which lie advised departing soldiers not to bring back English factory girls as wives, was held tonight in the Trades Hall. The meeting was disorderly throughout, and the proceedings decidedly humorous. The chairwoman called for speakers, whereupon a lady mounted the platform, and harangued the audience at some length on the way of English girls, women who did not spend their husbands' money, the "Poor little Belgiums," and a number of other subjects. During tho course of her remarks,, she stated that the costume she had on was five years old. (Wild applause).

A resolution was put by a returned soldier: "That this meeting demand a public apology from the Mayor for his slander of English girls," and amid a considerable uproar the motion was declared carried.

A further motion: "That this meeting go up to the Mayor's house and make him apologise right away," was defeated, the principal opposer stating that if they did go to the Mayor's house there would be fort)- thousand police about it, and the newspapers would say it was a dis-: graceful scene. A lady member of the audience then suggested that the meeting should go up in a lady-like manner. (Laughter.) It was decided to demand a public apology through the press. A female voice: "Through Sir Jamea Allen."

A number of people then attempted to speak together, and there was considerable disorder, above which tho voice of the chairwoman could be heard vainly demanding peace. Eventually a committee was elected to deal with the matter, one of those elected being the returned soldier who moved the first resolution. Upon his declining to be one of ;;he committee he was violently harangued by a woman, in the audience, but eventually, on tho voices, it was de-> cided to allow him to retract. The meet* ing then adjourned.