WOMEN ON HOSPITAL BOARDS, ETC.

Evening Star, Issue 14315, 14 March 1910, Page 7

WOMEN ON HOSPITAL BOARDS, ETC.

Alra Annie Blair, ns president of the Women’s Christian Temperance Union, addressed tho following circular to tho candidates for tho new Hospital and Charit- j able Aid Board;— ! In view of tho approaching election of members of tho Hospital and Charitable Aid Board, .1 am instructed by tho Executive of the W.C.T.U. to inquire as to your views on the question of joining a proportion of women with the elected members as a co-oporativo com- , mittc© for tho’ administration of tho j Hospital and of tho work hitherto car- | ried on In tho Trustees of the Benevolent : Institution. You are doubtless aware of j tho reason why there are no women cun- i didstes for the present election, but wo 1 feol sure that you will recognise that tho j co-operation of women in the very important work which the Board has to perform will tend to increase its efficiency and in many instances to remove from the elective members the difficult and delicate task of dealing with matters that in private life would bo left wholly and entirely in the hands of women. Tho subjoined replies have come to band: 1 have lo thank you for your courteous note asking me to express an opinion on the desirability of women taking part in the committee work of tho Hospitals and Benevolent Institutions. Aly experience of Hospital and Charitable Aid work (tuid especially during the last two years, during which 1 have held tho position of chairman) confirms my previous opinion that in many ways tho promise and advice of women on the committees would bo of great advantage, not only to tho committees, but also to the institutions. Should I bo honored by the citizens in being appointed to the Board I shall use my best efforts in that direction.—J. H. Walker. I am of tho opinion (and have been so for many yeans) that a proportion of women on the co-operative committees of the Hospital and Charitable Aid Board would be a decided improvement, and that their services would be of very great value, more especially regarding tho management of the Benevolent Institution and the distribution of charitable aid. I speak with an experience of over twenty-four years'.— A. E. Tapper. If the Hospital and Charitable Aid Board have tho power (and I at present can sec nothing to prevent it) my opinion is that tho co-operation of a ladies’ committee would be of great assistance to the Board. I am conscious of the fact that delicate questions will from time to time arise which would be infinitely better attended to by women than mon.—Robt. Templeton (Waikouaiti). In reply to your favor of the 11th inst., asking my opinion re appointing a proportion of women on tho proposed Hospital Co-operative Committee, 1 nave tho honor to advise that recently I publicly referred to tho necessity for such appointments. It is therefore only necessary for me to reiterate my publiely-expressed opinion that such appointments are desirable and in the best interests of the community.—J. F. Hamel. 1 have yours of the 11th inst., and in answer thereto would say that I consider such a committee- as you suggest a necessity. I do not, however, commit myself in any way as to the mode of election of such a committee, nor from whom it should bo drawn; nevertheless, should you be unsuccessful in having such a committee appointed, I would, if successful in gaining a seat upon, tho Board, bo prepared to sympathetically press home your recommendations in all secular matters. I regret exceedingly that, from a technical oversight, your candidates were ineligible, for 1 felt that it would be women more than men who would fully appreciate the position 1 intend to take up. —Arthur APCarthy. Your favor of 11th inst. to hand and contents noted. In reply, 1 have pleasure in informing you that from my experience —extending over four years on tne Hospital and Charitable Aid Boards—of the good work done by tho ladies of Dunedin m the various institutions that will be under tho control of the now Hospital and Charitable Aid Board, I will, if elected, cordially support any scheme that will bo tho means of r firing their valuable cervices in ‘carrying ' out the various duties required in the administration of each institution, especially those where women and children are treated. As this is a body elected to absorb four boards previously in existence, there will bo a largo amount of organising to bo done, and it is impossible to say at this time what can bo done in tho direction you indicate ; but the work will fall on tho City and suburban members, as tho country members only attend ordinary meetings. I venture to say they will bo glad to have any help you can give in tho administration of tho institutions. If elected, I can assure you that you will have my sympathy and assistance in'forwarding your wishes. —\Vm. W ilkinson. In reply to yours of the 11th inst., I may say that I believe women would bo of assistance on the Hospital and Charitable Aid Board. As to whether the elected Board will be able to conduct tho business efficiently without taking advantage of tho powers of the 1909 Act to add to their number I am not able to say. If they find it necessary to do so, without entering into the separate institutions which will be in tho Board’s control, I, so far as my knowledge goes, honestly think that there are certain duties which can ho much better carried out by women. If I ho elected, and upon my experience on any institutional committee to which I may be attached find that the work could be more efficiently carried out by adding a woman or women to such committee, then I would not hesitate to say so and to advocate it.— Walter L. Loom. In reply to your letter of the 11th inst., I may say that the Trustees of the Benevolent Board have always recognised tho valuable assistance rendered so willingly by the Sisters of tho different religious organisations. Airs Anecll, the Board's inspector, informs us that monthly meetings are held with a view of stopping any overlapping of charity. I shall therefore at all times be in favor of joining a proportion both of mon and women, as far as mav he considered necessary, to eooperato with tho Board in carrying on tho work of the institutions. I may say that I think this will be necessary, as the number of Trustees in Dunedin will be limited for tho amount of work to bo performed.—W. T. T ALBOVS. I am in receipt of your favor of tho 11th inst. to women being elected on tho various committees of the Charitable Aid Board. I would like to say that the suggestion meets with my strong approval, and if I am elected I will use my beet endeavors to have it carried into effect. The Board would be very materially assisted in many ways by the advice of ladies who have given very special attention to certain branches of our charitable institutions. The object of the Board must always bo to relievo tho present needs of the poor, but the great and nobler work is to help those who have fallen to rise again and become strong and useful members of society. Apart altogether from tho service to tho Board—which should bo invaluable —tho community should bo greatly benefited by organisations like yours being brought into intimate and official touch with the inmates of certain of our institutions. There must of necessity arise delicate matters in which a woman'can alone deal wi th those of her own sox. Whatever opinions any person may have on questions of policy, I do not think- that any of the candidates for this election would oppose your suggestion, and I anticipate no difficulty whatever in tho carrying out of the scheme. Whether successful or not, I will bo pleased to do wnat I can to" help you in this matter.— J. J. Clark. I am pleased that you have given me the opportunity of stating that I am in favor of a ladies’ committee, having soon and recognised tho groat and good work they have done in connection with our charitable institutions, and will, if _returned to the Board, support the appointment of a ladies’ committee. — David Larnach. I have to acknowledge your letter dated March 11, in which you ask my views on the question of joining a proportion of women with the electiro Bxwaaftr* as a

co*operativo/ committee for_ carrying out the administration of Hospital and Benevolent Institution affairs. I have always advocated the principle that women should occupy scats on all boards and institutions where matters are dealt with affecting the interests of women and children. In my opinion their advice and assistance would ho most valuable, particularly in the department of outdoor relief. To me it was always a painful and cruel system that permitted .of some poor woman, whose only sin was that she was forced to appeal for aid on behalf of her children, having to undergo, single handed, a catechism on delicate questions before a Board composed wholly of mon. Some time ago, to remove this blot,_ the Benevolent Trustees decided unanimously to appoint a woman inspector and adviser, and results have justified the appointment in every way. I believe the utility of this officer would be materially ou- ! hanccd by the assistance of, say, two honorary women members on the Committee, who would undertake pic work from purely philanthropic motives. >.o far ns the hospital is concerned, the necessity is not so great, as female patients are surrounded by their own sex in the shape of matron, Sisters, and nurses, but notwithstanding this, I shall support the same principle being adopted on the Hospital Committee. If I am returned as a member of the new Board I shall take the earliest opportunity of assisting in carrying the views I have expressed into effect.— J. Loudon.