TATARAIMAKA.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 144085, 2 May 1913, Page 4

TATARAIMAKA.

(From Our Own Correspondent.) May I.—Long cro I have finishedwriting these few notes the important questions of,municipal government and hospital control wilt have been settled. Country • settlers do not take a vmd interest in the appointment of Mayor, holding, no doubt rightly, that it. is a matter entirely concerning the. townspeople thoraselv.es; hub bn, tho question of the Hospital Board 1,. in common with many others, trust Mrs. Uockn' 1 may find it scat on.the board.,

The reproach has been flung at ■ our heads by women from Home that on no public boards in New Zealand have wo men found a place, and-there is not tho .slightest doubt that,' compared with the Old Country, we stand hopelessly condemned. Despite -its stern, refusal to j give women the suffrage,. the latter ihave for some considerable time had seats on county councils, _ hospital boards, education boards, parish councils, town councils, etc., etc., hence we in New Zealand are undoubtedly lag ‘ ging behind, and -while, we have ihe shadow they—the women of the British Isles—have incontestably the substance. .Some people sniff at school committees and say they are an infinitesimally unimportant body. Now I think more is no public body in New Zealand deserving -of so much credit, “Tho great unpaid” ought assuredly to be . their designation. In fair weather or in foul, without fee and without reward (except growls) doing their duty quietly, silently, striving for the right, and for “light, more light.” Why, I’ve been a member of a school committee whoso members gave a rousing British cheer when it was proved, beyond possibility of doubt or cavil, that the committee wore one penny to tho good after settling up picnic and social' accounts! ■ Modesty alone pre vents,me giving the names and description.

The Anglican Church held their thanksgiving services lately. The church was very prettily decorated for the occasion by several local ladie-s. The classic district of Tataraimaka has been advanced to the honour of seven on the school committee instead of five, as of yore. The new committee consists of Messrs. Hawkins'(chairman), Aish, Collins, Luchin, Morris, Smith, and Mrs. Dougherty. As he had done so well in the past it was the unanimous wish of the committee that Mr. Morris should retain the position of chairman; he, however, remained proof against all argument. Mr. Hawkins then proposed Sirs. Dougherty. But that lady declined, saying that besides having children attending tno school, Mr. Hawkins lived so very near it seemed the right and proper thing for him to do to accept the chairmanship. Mr. H. Luckin was re-appointed treasurer and authorised to sign cheques with the chairman, and Mr. Turner, the teacher, was reappointed secretary. The school committee are in good hopes of a fine night and a good audience for their concert on May 15. Nothing venture, nothing win; so they arc determined to "try again” with the weather.