CITIZENS' ASSOCIATION

Press, Volume LXV, Issue 19728, 19 September 1929, Page 7

CITIZENS' ASSOCIATION

MEETING OF WOMEN'S BRANCH. A meeting of the Women's Branch of the Christchurch Citizen*' Association was held last night, Mrs Rolleston presiding over a good attendance. The constitution and rules of the branch werd discussed in <Jommittee and adopted. An address was given by Miss Grigg on the work of the Civics Study Circle. She said that Mr L. Webb and Mr G. Manning had covered a great deal of ground, going back to the origin of local government. Mr Webb had reminded them that Plato, in his '• Republic," ha;d given woman an equal standing in local government, though it j had not gone beyond iheory in Greece, j What had directed the minds of some j of the women members to the necessity for taking ,an interest in ; public affairs was the state of Cathedral square, which from being one of the' most dalightfully clean spaces was now one of the, dirtiest. A result of the discussions at the circle —and som» of them were very animated—was the desirableness of keeping their votes apart from parly politics, so that they would be in a position to judge men and measures by their result. Referring to a building njbich was not considered an ornament to the City, the speaker expressed the opinion that there should be an Advisory Board, so that the City should not b<» disfigured. It it was worth while for the best shops to pay for brains for window-dressing, it might be equally worth while to take some steps to prevent the streets being disfigured at the caprice of some individual. Referring to the Domains Board, the speaker said she thought that women might give special attention to the class of members elected on that body to see that people of wide culture and people with some idea of landscape gardening were elected, otherwise they might have reason to wish very ardently for the wisdom of their fathers. (Applause.) , They had also discovered at the Circle gome of their weakness®®— notably the weakness of ignorance. She hoped that the Study Circle's members would be trebled, and help to bring forward women of wide ontlook and public spirit to Help to guide the nation. Even if they did not aspire to the Mayoralty —(laughter)— they hoped that the Study Circle would be the means of showing the scope that there was for work bv the best women's brains. One dimenltv was the fear that they might be looked upon as interlopers, but they had the delightful feeling that the men welcomed their corporation, and that the women would have a very good hearing from them. (Applause.) A vote of thanks was accorded Miss Grijrgj for her interesting address. The meeting then went into committee to hear addresses from Mr W. J. Sim, former chairman of the Citizens' Association, and Mr A. S. Taylor, the present chairman.