Women and Charitable Aid.

White Ribbon, Volume 12, Issue 139, 15 December 1906, Page 7

Women and Charitable Aid.

A curiously retrograde step has to he chronicled in the fact that, for the first time for some years, the North Canterbury Charitable Aid Board lias no women members. I'he Christchurch City Council, one of the electing Imdies, and which last year returned Mesdames Black and Wells, appears to he a little alarmed at the thoroughness and ability which has characterised the work of these lady members of the Board. Apparently it is largely a case of difference in ideal and aim. The majority of the men would save tin* rates. With the women the question of saving the people is of first importance. Cltimately, of course, saving the people would mean saving the rates too, but, evidently, long-sight is not vouchsafed to a certain section of men. Turning from the cheese-paring policy to the actual work of the Board, it is somewhat of a problem to determine why, if one sex only is to administer public relief, women rather than men should not perforin the duty In private life woman is generally the almoner. Woman, in the home, is charged with the duty of caring for the sick, dispensing food, clothing, etc. Is it possible th t in the homes represented by the retrograde members of the Council, the husband and father runs the domestic machinery Were the Board elected by the people's vote we cannot blit think that the common-sense of the community would assert itself and see that women were appointed to attend to essentially womanly duties.