Index

Some events around Peace Day 19 July 1919, as reported in the Melbourne press over one week

NOTES
Some ways in which the Women’s Political
Association and its offshoot, the Women’s Peace Army, worked to ‘right wrongs’ during the war.

a. THEY OPPOSED THE WAR
‘We War against War’

The Woman Voter 11 August 1914

At a meeting held on the 7th the following resolutions were passed:

That this Association expresses profound sorrow that the Statesmanship of civilised nations has proved unequal to the task of
averting a war that will bring misery and ruin to millions of innocent people, already overburdened by unjust social and industrial conditions.

It is, nevertheless, gratifying to think that the theory that crushing armaments are a guarantee of peace has been annihilated, and this Association hopes that women everywhere, the life givers of the world, will work henceforth with one mind to destroy the perverted sense of national honour, that only can be satisfied by the murder of men, and demand that international disputes be settled by
arbitration.

This Association resolves to cable to the President of the International Woman Suffrage Alliance, asking that women of all
nations be urged to support the actions of President Wilson, and plead for immediate arbitration.

WE WAR AGAINST WAR!
Melbourne January 20 1916
Great Peace and Free Speech Demonstration Yarra Bank,
Sunday afternoon January 30th
3 Platforms, Many Speakers,
Upwards of 20 Organisations Co-operating.

b. THEY FOUGHT FOR CIVIL LIBERTY,
FREEDOM OF THE PRESS

The Woman Voter 29 September 1914

Immediately when war was declared we cleared the decks of our little Peace Dreadnought and prepared for action. We passed a resolution regretting that the statesmanship of nations had failed...We published articles against war...

On 9th instant an armed guard, with fixed bayonets, a commanding officer, a detective, and police, took charge of the establishment of our printers, Messrs Fraser and Jenkinson... seized the first prints of the “Woman Voter”, and the correspondence etc. referred to above
was destroyed...

On September 3 we received a communication from the Military
Censor... informing us that the Woman Voter contained matter that should not have been published... and that we must not publish anything that was not calculated to “stimulate military
enthusiasm”...

We replied that the commandment “Thou shalt not kill” was likely to inspire military enthusiasm and we would teach that in season and out of season! ...

The Censor’s staff told us that they had more trouble with our paper than with any other publication in Melbourne...The Woman Voter is the only paper that has even attempted to make a fight for civil liberty, and we urge you to help us in that fight. Take extra copies of this week’s issue, distribute the paper widely,
get new subscribers.

We are fighting for Civil Liberty and against Military Despotism in Australia...The new government will take office almost immediately, and we must appeal to them to safeguard the rights of the people. We shall ask them to receive a deputation, and we urge you to accompany us when we interview the Prime Minister and the Minister of Defence.

c. THEY CONDUCTED RESEARCH

The Woman Voter 13 October 1914

We earnestly impress upon those of our readers who earn their own living, no matter in what capacity, the duty to themselves and their fellow workers of filling up the following form, and returning it, without delay, to the WPA, 229 Collins Street, Melbourne.

Occupation
Salary (per week)
Are you over 21?
Do you live with parents?

What do you pay for -
Board and lodging
Meals in Town
Support of Relatives
Fares
Clothing
Laundry
Doctor or Lodge
Union or Political League
Reading
Amusements
Holidays
Presentations to Fellow-workers
Sundries
How much are you able to save?

No signature necessary.The facts given will be most helpful in the equal pay case now before the Industrial Appeal Court.

Vida Goldstein, President

The Woman Voter 17 November 1914

WPA has decided to make an investigation into the conditions of distress caused by the war. It will commence operations in Port Melbourne.

d. THEY LOBBIED, PROTESTED AND NETWORKED

The Woman Voter 24 June 1915

Hands Off the People’s Bread - Cost of Living Women’s Deputation to State Parliament, Thursday, July 1st at 3.30 p.m. to demand

1. That Parliament shall protect the People against those who Gamble in the People’s Food.

2. That Women shall be appointed to the Price of Goods Board. Meetings to explain the objects of the Deputation will be held
Every Tuesday -
Richmond - Bridge Rd and Coppin Sts... 8 p.m.
Every Wednesday -
Carlton - Nicholson and Johnston Sts... 8 p.m.
Every Thursday -
Melbourne - 215 Latrobe St... 8 p.m.
Every Friday -
South Melbourne - Clarendon and Bank Sts... 8 p.m.
Every Saturday -
Hawthorn - Opposite Town Hall... 8 p.m.

The Argus 2 July 1915

Persistent Deputation - Parliamentary Rebuff -
Women Annoyed

A demonstration in force at the State Parliament House, of members of the Women's Political Association was contemplated yesterday. About 40 women arrived in the Exhibition Gardens shortly before half past 4 o'clock in the expectation of meeting the Premier (Sir Alexander Peacock) and other members of the Legislative Assembly... They said the situation was bearing hardly on the poorer sections of the community.

This was the first of many similar demonstrations and meetings that took place regularly well into September. "The processions grew bigger and bigger every day", (Adela) Pankhurst recalled some years later.

"I tried to negotiate a peaceful settlement and wrote to the Prime Minister... If he had... explained why the government took no action to preserve the people's food there would have been no disorder. He did nothing."

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