Women’s Tax Resistance League.
On old silver was sold at the
house of Miss Wratislaw, Bath, because of her refusal to pay Inhabited House
Duty. The articles were sold under
similar circumstances. Prior to the sale there was a procession, and
immediately afterwards a protest meeting, when Mrs. [Margaret] Kineton Parkes
moved the following resolution:— “That this meeting protests against the
seizure and sale of Miss Wratislaw’s goods, and considers that women are
justified in refusing to pay the Imperial taxes until they have the same
control over national expenditure as male tax-payers possess.” A successful
drawing-room meeting was held the next afternoon which aroused considerable
interest. New members were enrolled.
On Romford was shaken out of its
sleepy calm by the tax-resistance sale of goods belonging to Mrs. Colquhoun,
of Gidea Park, and Mrs. Bacon, of Hornchurch. A big crowd collected for the
protest meeting and listened attentively while Mrs. Kineton Parkes, of the
Women’s Tax Resistance League, and Miss C. Nina Boyle, of the Women’s Freedom
League, explained the reason for the refusal to pay King’s taxes, and
answered the questions which were put after the speeches were over. The usual
resolution was passed.
Medical Women Refuse to Pay Unjust Taxes.
On , a gold watch and chain were sold
under distraint for King’s taxes at Messrs Hawkings’ Auction Rooms,
Lisson-grove, the property of
Drs. Frances Ede and Amy
Sheppard, practising at Upper Berkeley-street. A procession with banners
marched from Marble Arch to the Auction Rooms, via
Edgware-road. As soon as Lot 1 was announced,
Dr. Ede protested against the
sale, and her brief speech was listened to with grave attention. The watch
and chain were knocked down at £8
18s.
6d. After three cheers had been
given to the tax resisters, the procession continued to Mary-le-bone Baths,
where an open-air meeting was held.
Dr. Ede presided; the speakers
were Mrs. [Anne] Cobden Sanderson and Mrs. Kineton Parkes. At the close of
the meeting, the following resolution was carried: “That this meeting
protests against the seizure and sale of goods belonging to
Drs. Ede and Sheppard, and is
of opinion that women tax-payers are justified in refusing to pay all
Imperial taxes till they have the same control over national expenditure as
male tax-payers possess.”
