Two Courageous Women.

White Ribbon, Volume 3, Issue 29, 1 November 1897, Page 7

Two Courageous Women.

In our last issue we made brief reference to the failure of our charitable aid system at Wanganui. Mrs Williamson—who will be remembered by all visitors to the National Council meeting at Christchurch brought under the notice of the Wanganui Charitable

Aid Board some complaints as to cruelty by the Wardsman at the Old Men’s Home. The Board appointed a committee to investigate the matter, and the committee not only exonerated the Wardsman, but commended him for the manner in which he had performed his duties. The matter was not allowed to rest here. An information was laid against the Wardsman, and the charge was heard by the Stipendiary Magistrate. According to the Wanganui Herald , “ Mrs Bullock (a member of the National Council) prosecuted, and conducted the case for the informant in a way that convinced all present that women are quite as capable of conducting such cases as men." We congratulate these ladies for their compassion and public spirit, and wish we could offer similar congratulations to the Board. The whole case proves the absolute necessity for women on our Charitable Aid Boards. It is work that they are eminently fitted for, and we greatly regret that Mr Roche’s motion, at the Charitable Aid Conference in Wellington, 11 That it is desirable that local bodies should be partially represented by women on Charitable Aid Boards,” was negatived.