Oldham Society for Women's Suffrage
Seventh Annual Report and Balance Sheet
Year ending October 31st 1917
Read at the Annual Meeting of Members November 11th, 1917,
in the Music Room, Werneth Park.
November 17th, 1917
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Oldham Society for Women's Suffrage
(National Union of Women's Suffrage Societies)
Non-Party .................... Non-Militant
President :
Miss Marjory Lees
Vice Presidents:
Mrs. Bodden, Mrs. Eric Claydon, B.A., Mrs. McGowan, Rev. G.S. Osborn, Mrs. J.W. Taylor, Rev. A.J. Viner, Mr. G.H. Whittaker, 1Miss Catherine Payne, M.B., B.S..
Executive Committee:
Mrs. Clynes, Mrs. Wilde, Miss Dornan, Mrs. Ingham, Miss Field, Mrs. Jagger, Mrs. Osborn, Mrs. Siddall, Miss Sharples, Miss S.E. Wright, Miss Hearne (Literature Secretary).
Hon Treasurer:
Miss Mitton, 13 Newport Street,
Hon. Secretary:
Mrs. Bridge, 82, Greengate Street.
Hon. Secretary to The Friends of Women's Suffrage Scheme:
Miss Fox, 25, Osborne Road.
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Political Situation
It must be obvious that amid the urgent claims and distractions of war work it has not been possible to arrange many meetings for our Members but your Executive has lost no opportunity of demonstrating that our desire for enfranchisement is stronger than ever, and through the year the National Union has kept the work at high pressure, and we seemed to be in constant communication with our Parliamentary Representatives, who have always been ready to consider our point of view on the various clauses of the Representation of the People Bill. The success of Women's Suffrage is now certain: it has behind it not only an overwhelming majority in the House of Commons, but an immense volume of support from all parties all over the country. When the proposals pass into law they will give votes to all women over 30 who are on the Local Government Register or are the wives of men on the Local Government Register. That is to say that the vote will be given to about six million women of 30 or over. It is not all we asked for, but it is a measure of practical utility, and one which establishes the basis of the women's claim.
Work of the Society
At our last Annual Meeting - November 11th, 1916 - Miss Edith Place gave an excellent address on 'The Growth of Women's Suffrage During the War'.
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In February, 1917, the President and the Secretary attended the National Union Council Meetings held in London.
On February 24th a Public Meeting was held in the Music Room. Councillor Eleanor Rathbone, M.A., of Liverpool, spoke on 'The Present Position of Women's Suffrage'.
On March 3rd a Great Demonstration in support of the Representation of the People Bill was held in the Albert Hall, Manchester. Mrs. Fawcett was in the chair, and the speakers included Sir John Simon, M.P., Mr. J.R. Clynes, M.P., and Mr. Jacobsen, M.P. it was estimated that the audience numbered over 2,000. Our Society sent its fair share, and our banner added to the decoration of the hall.
Our activities have not been confined to the Franchise Bill alone. Much correspondence and discussion on the various clauses of the Criminal Law Amendment Bill have varied our Executive Meetings. Your representatives have attended all the meetings of the Manchester Federation and most of the meetings of the Committee for promoting a Municipal Maternity Centre. It is pleasing to report that this work is making good progress.
Mrs. Jagger, a member of your Executive Committee, has done much work to advance the cause, having been admirable in her work as Honorary Secretary to that Committee.
Representatives have attended all the meetings of the Committee for the Care of Women and Children held at the Town Hall, and also those of the Tipperary Club for Soldiers' and Sailors' Wives, Miss Dornan being Honorary Treasurer of the latter. Mrs. Fletcher has been appointed Executive Officer ot the Crompton Food Control Committee.
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It will be of interest to you to know what part our townwomen are taking in Local Government work, being represented on the various bodies as follows:-
County Borough Council ............ 1
Education Committee ............ 3
Old Age Pensions Committee ............ 1
Food Control Committee ............ 1
Householders' Sub-Committee ............ 1
Board of Guardians ............ 6
Local War Relief Committee ............ 10
Naval and Military Pensions Committee ............ 3
National Health Insurance Committee ............ 9
Hulme Grammar School ............ 5
Royal Infirmary ............ 2
The following remarkable statistics as to the increased employment of women during the war are given in the 'Board of Trade Labour Gazette'. The chief increases of war workers are:-
Industries ............ 518,000
Government Departments ............ 202,000
Transport and trains ............ 88,000
Finance and banks ............ 54,000
Commerce ............ 324,000
The total number of women who have been employed since the war began is 1,421,000.
Some months since we were asked by the Women's Local Government Society to consider the advisability of forming a Committee, but our President, who is Honorary Secretary of the Local Branch of the National Union of Women Workers, pointed out that she had been in official correspondence since 1911, and that much useful work had been done. It was felt, therefore, that it was unnecessary for two societies to be doing the same work, and in this the Women's Local Government Society acquiesced.
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Dr. Claydon Memorial
Your instructions to issue an appeal and draw up a suitable scheme for a Memorial to the late Dr. Claydon were carried out. Subscriptions were not confined to members of this Society. The amount raised was £64 8s. 4d. A meeting of subscribers was held, and it was decided to place a Memorial in the Institute for Women and Girls, Overens Street, commemorating Dr. Claydon's work for the Day Nursery there, and to offer prizes to students making a special study of venereal disease at the Royal Free Hospital School of Medicine, London. The Memorial was unveiled on June 12th 1917, in the presence of a large number of members and friends.
N.U.W.S.S. Scottish Hospitals Abroad
It is a pleasure to report that this work has gone on successfully through the year.
At our last meeting Private Harold Duncan sent a brooch to be sold which he had made. A purchaser was soon found and £1 added to the funds.
The President and Mrs. Alderman Lees each subscribed £50 for the upkeep of two beds through the year.
Miss Cattrall, by an exhibition of her students' work, raised £25.
A concert organised by our members, held at the Town hall, realised £23 2s. 6d.
The children of Werneth Council School made two efforts and sent £75.
Collecting cards and small sums reached £8 17s. 5d., making a total of £232.19s. 11d. from Oldham.
Our thanks are due to all who have assisted in any way. The results have proved worth the effort. Will you make a further effort to maintain the Oldham beds through another year if necessary? The amount raised for these Hospitals throughout the kingdon has reached the magnificent toal of £260,000.
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Honoured Womanhood
The recognition of the importance of women's work, as shown by the various happenings of the past year, help us to realise the changes which the enfranchisement of women must bring. To us the most gratifying event in this connection is the conspicuous honour conferred on an already distinguished member of this Society. We refer to the bestowal of the title of Dame Commander of the British Emnpire on Mrs. C.E. Lees. It was fitting that she should be of the first to receive the decoration, pioneer as she has always been in any noble forward movement. We congratulate Dame Sarah Lees, and feel proud of her; and knowing as we do of the services she has rendered to so many good causes in general and to the women's movement in particular, we realise how richly the honour was deserved.
We rejoice that other women are included in the New Orders of the British Empire, and regret that the names of many worthy women have been omitted.
Press Work
A campaign has been conducted in the local papers on behalf of the Representation of the People Bill and the women's clause. A long article on the 'Remarkable Progress of Women's Suffrage' was inserted in the two evening papers. We had evidence that this was widely read and also used as propaganda. Copies of the 'Memorandum', an excellent publication of the National Union, showing cause why women should be enfranchised were sent to the Members of Parliament, Parliamentary Candidates, and Party Agents.
Our Thanks
We owe a debt of gratitude to our Members, Sir William Barton, M.P., and Mr. Bartley Denniss, M.P. Their vote has been given in our favour in every division. We also desire to thank the Trades Unions who sent resolutions in support of the women's clauses in the
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Franchise Bill, viz.:- The National Union of General Workers, representing 22,000 members; the Trades and Labour Council, representing 25,000 workers; also to the Powerloom Overlookers Association. We also wish to express our appreciation of the kindness of Miss Lees (our President) in granting us the use of the Music Room whenever we have required it, and also the use of a room to hold our Executive Meetings. We are indebted also to many of our members who responded so well to the Treasurer's appeal when the funds were low and doubled their subscription.
Our Future Work
We are quite sure that, with the vote won, our work will be just begun. With so much work before us we should be albe to unite on a common scheme of action, and at the same time endeavour to educate our women to make an intelligent use of their vote. As one of our parliamentary representatives said, in replying to a letter of thanks for his support:-
"The real reason why your cause is today how and where it is is the courage and more - the power of holding on - of women. In our habitual life second things have been first; but the women surely will rightly place maternity, health, housing, education. These are the things which will enable us to be and to do."
Signed on behalf of the Executive Committee,
RACHEL H. BRIDGE, Honorary Secretary.
1 Read Dr. Catherine Payne's story HERE (opens in a new window)
