WOMEN AS REPRESENTATIVES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXII, Issue 9726, 23 January 1895, Page 6

WOMEN AS REPRESENTATIVES.

TO THE EDITOR. Sib, —Permit; mo a few words with regard to women as representatives of the people on local bodies, or in any other way. I see from this morning's Herald that Mrs. Matson, Parnell's lady councillor, Is endeavouring to emulate Onehunga's late lady mayor in her persistence in setting her opinion against that of her fellow-coun-cillors, sho being so evidently in the wrong. I cannot but think that woman's natural impulsiveness, which I think the Rev. Mr. Beatty told us frequently caused her to be • unjust— a result of not sufficiently weighing evidence and actions before coming to a conclusion—that this impulsiveness will be a bar for many a day, if not forever, to her making a useful representative of the people. In the meantime I suppose we shall continue to be edified" by such scenes as took place at the meeting of theOnehunga Council under the regime of the late lady mayor—scenes which must at least have made every true woman feel grieved. Nob being a " new woman," I am of opinion that woman's influence on the world, though greater than that of man, will not be best brought to bear, at least for a long time to come, by discussing in public with man such matters as affect her nearly. She is too ready to form an opinion and to express it; and though she may often be correct, the advantage so gained is more than counterbalanced by the occasional incorrect opinions formed on impulse. I therefore think that though woman may in every other respect be allowed "equal rights" with man, the line should be drawn at expression of opinion in public till she has in nature become moro of a gentleman without having quite ceased to be a lady.— lam, etc., T. Gerkens. Mount Eden, January 22,1895.