THE CHARITABLE AID BOARD.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 7507, 15 September 1902, Page 2

THE CHARITABLE AID BOARD.

It is hardly necessary to point to the good work done in the past by women who have been elected to seats upon the Hospital and Charitable Aid Board' to justify a strong plea for the representation of the sex upon the Boa<rd again; Their record is an abiding practical support of a) somewhat obvious reform theory. The Board in the course of its deliberations during the year is frequently called upon to consider cases of destitution and 1 want where the special knowledge of a woman and her curiously sympathetic quality of adaptability would be of more value than all the business qualifications of ai dozen of the "superior" sex. The Charitable Aid Board', in fact, more than any other administrative local body, calls . for ai leaven of the feminine element in its constitution. But there are women, and women, unfortunately, instead of only women, and the local bodies to whom the selection of representatives on the Board is entrusted will not be sorry for a little assistance in, helping them to decide upon the most suitable candidates so far as the women are concerned. It is the intention of the Women's Institute to again nominate candidates, and their nominations have been so satisfactory in' the past that the ejecting bodies need hardly look further for a lead. The Institute is a responsible organisation, singularly free of extremists and moderate in its tone, and, once the principle of feminine representation on the Board has been admitted, its members, with, the advantage of the training already secured, should be i specially suited for election, to isuch local bodies as are open to them.