INSTITUTE’S LETTER

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 11, Issue 42, 18 June 1947, Page 5

INSTITUTE’S LETTER

COUNCILLORS PUZZLED “A SEAT ON THE COUNCIL” Ought a local body member to give up his seat to a lady? This seems to be the question that has been raised by a circular letter which the Eastern Bay of Plenty Federation of Women’s Institutes has sent to local bodies. The Whakatane County Council and the Bay of Plenty Hospital Board have already received this letter. The Opotiki County Council has also been asked if it would consider allocating a seat, thus allowing women to stand against women and not against men. At the council’s June meeting councillors appeared to be slightly puzzled as to the meaning of the letter.

Various interpretations, says the Opotiki News, could be placed on the request, one of which was that one seat only on the council should be reserved for a woman candidate, who would be voted for separately. In that event it appeared that the Federation would be satisfied to have only one lady member of the council.

At present if it was the wish of electors and there were sufficient women candidates the council could be wholly composed of women. The allocating of one seat only would mean restricting the number of women on a local body to only one. However the Opotiki council decided that the matter was entirely beyond their powers and the Federation should approach the Government.

The clerk was left to reply to the Federation.