A Woman Councillor.

Manawatu Herald, 2 May 1893, Page 2

A Woman Councillor.

We have been asked whether a woman is eligible fof the office of Councillor for the Borough ? We unhesitatingly answer " yes." Wicked people might doubt, from past experience, whether an addition of this character is needed, but with all the little jokes which might be mad" • hold a female Co-^ ft!gt| "^ ..„ «ne advantages of Conferring the Franchise upon hei 1 s§x, and tm great harm, bSCepfc to the niale Councillors, would arise"; •• T"he Municipal Corporations Act 188ti/ ; sets forth that eVery p§rson of the age of twenty one years, whose name j appears on the burgess roll of a i borough shall be entitled to vote at every election, and every burgess enrolled in respect of rateable pro- ■ perty shall be qualified to be a Councillor, and we may remark, is also qualified to be a Mayor. The main difficulty, "ih ft stiiall borough, ih s&leeiifig a woman as Councillor, lies in the fact that so few women are upon the burgess , roll, the property generally being claimed by ihtlle oWHers. \Ve be--1 HeVe $h the case of the Borough ot Foxton there are very few women burgesses, and probably none could be persuaded to aspire to a seat. The fact remains that, could they be so induced, the law allows of their being elected.