A highly successful meeting under the auspices of the Women’s Tax Resistance
League was held in the Town Hall, Buxton, on
. Mrs. [Emily] Juson Kerr
presided. The principal speaker was Mrs. [Charlotte] Despard, who said that
for five years she had refused to pay imperial taxes, and pointed out that
women were virtually in a position of slavery so long as they were forced to
obey laws which they had no hand in making. The secretary, Mrs. [Margaret]
Kineton Parkes, explained the object and progress of the League. A resolution
to the effect that women were justified in resisting taxation until they were
enfranchised was carried with only three objectors. The Chapel-en-le-Frith
Glee Singers gave an admirable rendering [of] “Women of To-day” (music by
Montague King). A drawing-room meeting had been previously held at Park
House, by kind invitation of Miss Ashmall-Salt. In connection with the
League, a shop has been opened at Spring Gardens, where daily meetings are
held.
On ,
Dr. [Winifred] Patch, of
Highbury (Women’s Freedom League), made her second appearance at her public
examination in the bankruptcy proceedings brought against her by the Inland
Revenue Department, adjourned from . The crowd of suffragist sympathisers was far larger than on the
previous occasion, and included Mrs. Despard,
Dr. and Mrs. Clark; Miss
Evelyn Sharp, Mrs. Juson Kerr, Mrs. [Barbara] Ayrton Gould, Miss [Bertha]
Brewster, Miss Smith Piggott, Miss [Agnes Edith] Metcalf, Mrs. Kineton
Parkes, Miss [Kate] Raleigh, Mrs. Julia Wood, Mrs. [Anne] Cobden Sanderson,
Miss Gertrude Eaton, Mrs. Mustard, Mrs. Tanner, Miss [Sarah] Benett, and many
others.
To vary the proceedings Dr.
Patch offered this time to make an affirmation, and answer any questions
which seemed to her to merit a reply. These were not very numerous.
Dr. Patch then stated her
position:—
I do not acknowledge the authority of the Court, for it is being employed by
the Crown not to fulfill its proper function of adjusting equitably the
claims of creditor and debtor, but to enforce an unconstitutional demand, as
did the Court of the Star Chamber 250 years ago.
It is to the British Constitution that the British Empire owes its place
among the leading nations of the world, and it is the duty of her children
to whom her honour is dear to keep her true to those principles. I was a
tax resister before the outbreak of the war. The political truce with the
Government was tacitly accepted by suffragists, and this would have
prevented me from beginning tax resistance after war broke out. I have paid
no taxes for many years, and it is a breach of faith of the Government to
have just started proceedings against me now. By taking my money which is at
my bank you only prevent me from putting it into War Loan, as I intended to
do.
As regards the money left to me by my brother, who fell a few months ago,
gallantly fighting for our country, I do not know whether you wish to take
this from me. I am a suffragist, I love my country, but I claim the right to
give to my country in my own way what she has no right to take from me by
force until women are represented in the Councils of the nation. I ask that
the judgment of bankruptcy against me be annulled.
The Court adjourned the proceedings for another fortnight, pending the
receipt of the signed statement of particulars from
Dr. Patch, which the
authorities are so anxious to add to their documents. Further developments
will be announced.
Luncheon to Dr. Patch at
Headquarters
After the proceedings at Bankruptcy-buildings,
Dr. Patch was entertained at
headquarters to luncheon, for providing which the Minerva Cafe added to its
crown of laurels. Mrs. Despard presided over a large gathering of supporters.
She expressed, amid applause, the warm appreciation and admiration of all for
Dr. Patch’s service to the
great cause of Votes for Women.
Dr. Clark praised the ability
she has displayed in her plucky action, and declared that no class which
possesses power gives in without a struggle. Mrs. Kineton Parkes pointed out
the heavy cost at this time of her sacrifice for conscience’ sake, and hoped
that a memorial would tell future generations of
Dr. Patch’s service to the
cause of Votes for Women. After short speeches from Miss Evelyn Sharp and
Mrs. Mustard, Dr. Patch
thanked everyone for their support, and used the words of the late Professor
Kettle as expressing the attitude of unenfranchised women:
Bound in the toils of hate we may not cease,
Free, we are free to be your friends.
