THE COLONIAL TREASURER AND WOMEN'S RIGHTS.

Evening Post, Volume XXIX, Issue 109, 1 June 1885, Page 2

THE COLONIAL TREASURER AND WOMEN'S RIGHTS.

♦ Sir Julius Vogel does not often miss taking fall advantage of his opportunities. He has, however, done co in one notable instance lately. It is well-known that he holds most advanced ideas on the question of female suffrage. He would willingly concede full electoral privileges to women equally with men, and at the meeting of the Government Inßurance Association tbo other night he was carefnl to remind thove present that the term policyholder implied no limitation as to Bex, and that if the Local Boards were decided upon, women would be aa eligible aB men for election thereon. This is no doubt the cose. The Act has been framed in a liberal spirit in this respeot, but the question naturally arises why did not Sir Julius Vogel, when he hod the chance, exeroise the power it gave him, and nominate at least one female membar to the Centra] Board. He haa thrown away a golden opportunity for striking a blow at old-fashioned prejudices about the proper sphere of female employment, and for proving that one sex is aa competent as the other to bear a leading part in publio affairs. When he had the power of nominating three members, he should certainly have selected a female polioy holder for one of the seats. Had there been one on the Central Board probably Bir Julius Vos-el would not have hsd to, complain of there being none at the meeting. There ia, however, still a chance for Sir Juliue Vogel to give praotioal effeot to his views on this matter. If he will only pledge himself to appoint a female polieyholdor as chairman (we use the term as it is employed in the Act) of each of the proposed Looal Boards, we believe that a great deal of the opposition to the creation of these bodies would be withdrawn. Who could be ao wanting in gallantry aa to oppose the oreation of bodies to be presided over by chairmen wearing dress improvers P If Sir Julius Vogel ia really anxioua to have these Local Boards, and to carry his ideas regarding female representation into effeot, he can secure both objeots by giving snob, a promise as we have indicated. It would relieve him at onoe of th« imputation of desiring the Boards for political purposes ; and as to the influence of the Looal Boards in extending the business, if he would only take oare to seleot young and pretty chairmen, why their influence would be immense — simply incalculable—and rival institutions would have no chance of successful competition. We fear, however, that the Colonial Treasurer will not adopt our suggestion. He has already told us of the troubles of patronage, and how much he dislikes having it to bestow. If this new field for its exercise should be opened up, probably he would find the burden greater than he oould bear.