VOTES FOR WOMEN.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 3031, 30 October 1908, Page 5

VOTES FOR WOMEN.

HOUSE OF COMMONS STARTLED. DETERMINED SUFFRAGETTES. WILD SCENES. ATTEMPTS) RUSH THE HOUSE. J FOURTEEN ARRESTS MADE. Received October 29, 9.50 p.m. ' LONDON, October 29. The House of Commons was startled last evening by a suffrage placard being thrust through the iron trellis of the ladies' gallery from whence came shrill cries of "Votes for Women." On investigation being made two women were found to be padlocked to the grating by a chain engirdling their bodies. They declined to unlock themselves, and continued to shout and upbraid the male legislators. The police removed the portion of the grating to which the women were padlocked to a committee room, where locksmiths filed away the links and both the suffragettes were liberated in the Old Palace yard. Simultaneously with the women's demonstration a man in the strangers' gallery opposite 'demanded justice for women; arid threw leaflets on to the floor of the House. He was expelled. * Later another man shouted "Justice for the unemployed" and "Votes for women." He showered'pamphlets on the heads of members of the House.,' He was immediately expelled, shouting, and struggling fiercely. Meanwhile members of tin Women's Freedom League in twos and threes penetrated far into St. Stepnen's Hall, arid pretended to be waitjng to see individual members of the House of Commons. Suddenly they made a rush into the lobby, but the police drove them back. Fourteen persons in all, including several who were outside, notably Miss Maloney, of bellringing fame, were arrested. She was on the top of the pedestal of the statue ot Richard Goner de Lion near the entrance of the House of Lords, arid tried to harangue the crowd in the Palace yard. The Speaker ordered the ladies and strangers' galleries to be closed in future. M|s3 Muriel Matters, one of the padlocked women, informed an interviewer after her release, that she voted twice at the Australian elections. Later Miss Matters was arrested for. participating in the disturbance in the yard. Her companion, a Mies Fox, was not arrested. She has disapppeared. •■■■■■■annaiMin