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Jennypeg
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The Townhall
replied on: 6/2/2006 5:32:02 PM

4th March 1910
Ripley & Heanor News
SUFFRAGETTES AT HEANOR
On Monday evening Mrs Pankhurst addressed a meeting at the Heanor Town Hall. Miss Pethick presided. The hall was densely crowded, and hundreds of people outside were unable to gain admission.
Mrs Pankhurst having invited questions, Miss Agnes Slack, of Ripley, put several to Mrs Pankhurst, She asked who gave the men present their vote, and Mrs Pankhurst, in reply, referred to Mr. Disraeli’s Act. In answer to a further question on the subject, Mrs Pankhurst admitted that the Liberal Government of 1884 had given the extended franchise.
Miss Slack’s next question was, “you have said that the government has failed altogether with regard to legislation for women and children. Do you regard the children’s Act as a complete failure?”
Mrs Pankhurst replied, “I did not say that” The remainder of her answer was drowned in cries of “You did” and booing. Considerable confusion followed.
Miss Slack: You have said that “infantile mortality is chiefly owing to the physical infirmities of the mother for want of food.” Don’t you think that the Licensing Bill passed by the House of Commons would have lessened poverty?
Mrs Pankhurst replied that if women had had a vote years ago there would have been more Temperance legislation now than there is. Women would not be drunkards at all if they had healthy homes and decent food. For three women addicted to drunkenness there were ten men.
Here a man in the audience called out, “You are talking about poverty driving women to drink; could not they but bread with the money?”
Miss Slack referred to Mrs Pankhurst’s statement that the midwives registration Act had caused great loss of life, and asked for proof of that, as in her opinion the Act had saved large numbers of lives.
Mrs Pankhurst, in reply, said she referred chiefly to country districts.
Miss Slack’s question were frequently interrupted by applause and “boo’s”
Mrs Pankhurst announced she would not reply to any more questions from Miss Slack, at which statement there was much uproar, and the meeting concluded.
Miss Slack put further questions to Mrs Pankhurst at a meeting in the Ilkeston Town Hall on Tuesday evening.
Miss Slack announced herself before asking questions as a strong supporter of women’s suffrage. It will be remembered the late Sir John Bamford Slack introduced a Women’s Suffrage Bill in the House of Commons in 1905.

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