Tax Resistance.
On , the last item on the
catalogue of Messrs. Whiteley’s weekly sale in Westbourne-grove was household
silver seized in distraint for King’s taxes from Miss Gertrude Eaton, of
Kensington. Miss Eaton is a lady very well known in the musical world and
interested in social reforms, and
hon. secretary of the Prison
Reform Committee. Miss Eaton said a few dignified words of protest in the
auction room, and Mrs. [Anne] Cobden Saunderson explained to the large crowd
of bidders the reason why tax-paying women, believing as they do that taxation
without representation is tyranny, feel that they cannot, by remaining
inactive, any longer subscribe to it. A procession then formed up and a
protest meeting was held at Bradley’s-corner, where speeches were made from a
carriage by Mrs. Cobden Saunderson, Mrs. [Margaret] Kineton Parkes, Mrs.
Florence Hamilton, Mrs. Clarkson Swann, and Miss Gertrude Eaton. The
resolution was carried unanimously.
At the offices of the collector of Government taxes, Westborough, on
a silver cream jug and sugar
basin were sold. These were the property of
Dr. Marion McKenzie, who had
refused payment of taxes to support her claim on behalf of women’s suffrage.
A party of suffragettes marched to the collector’s office, which proved far
too small to accommodate them all. Mr. Parnell said he regretted personally
having the duty to perform. He believed that ultimately the women would get
the vote. They had the municipal vote and he maintained that women who paid
rates and taxes should be allowed to vote. (Applause.) But that was his own
personal view. He would have been delighted not to have had that process,
but he had endeavoured to keep the costs down.
Dr. Marion McKenzie thanked
Mr. Parnell for the courtesy shown them. A protest meeting was afterwards
held on St. Nicholas Cliff.
A very successful tour has been made by our Caravan in
Bucks., under the charge of Miss Muriel
Matters and Miss Violet Tillard. Meetings were held in Great Missenden,
Wendover, Aylesbury, Chesham, and Stoke Mandeville. During
the office will be open to receive
letters and telephone messages for a couple of hours each morning.
