WOMEN IN MUNICIPAL LIFE

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 57, 1 December 1920, Page 5

WOMEN IN MUNICIPAL LIFE

Speaking at yesterday's annual meet ing of the Girls' Friendly Society upon the part that women should take in the municipal life of their city, Mrs. Cole- . ridge said that it wns the clear duty of women lo take a part in all maitters that affected the welfare of women and children, and as they were really the greater part of the population of a coun. try she did not see what could be said no;| to affect them. The right to a share in the municipal life of their city had been given to women, and it was a work that they should not shirk. She hoped that wheu women really did take their share in puhlic life they would take a different . standard to the one that had been so largely held in tho past, and would elect the men and women best fitted'for the work, and for no other reason. In discussing the matters that, perhaps, more closely than others affected women's interests, Mrs. Coleridge said that one woman sanitary ! Ds P«cto'; of houses had been appointed m Wellington, but what was one woman in such a city, where there was so much to be dono? • The influenza epidemic had shown how much needed looking nfter. Children's playgrounds also called for special consideration by women. They wanted plenty of playing space for the children, but thev wanted to tie sure that tho grounds were safe. Some children had met with very nasty adventures, and she thought! t'hat it would be a.good thing to have women and girls appointed its piny'mistresses. A suggestion was put forward by tho speaker that some of the vacant sections might be turned into playing spaces while : lying unused, and that swings, etc., might be provided for children s use. Appreciative reference was made to the assistance given by the City Council to the rest-room in Counfenny Place by paying the rent. This action .had been greatly appreciated. The restroom had become a very popular place, and lac-t month ino fewer tlyin fifty babies had been left temporarily in the charge of rtte matron. More conveniences for women were needed, and all such places should be left open on Saturday and-Sunday, with, a woman in charge of each. Another mntter that Mrs. Coleridge brought before the attention of her hearers- wns the closing on Saturday of tho children's library. This did no!/ matter so much in the summorr as in the winter, when the days were wet, and it was hard to find interests for children.' She thought it would be an excellent thing if a larger library nnd more assistants were provided. It had been said Mat it was useless for women to be put upon the City Council, as so much finance was dealt with. She did not know if every city, councillor were a born financier, but she did think that there were matters even in regard to finance in which i/he opinion of women would be helpful. She thought the City Council had been very successful with its milk scheme, and that the higher costs and the scarcity of milk which had occurred were not its fault. As a matter of fact, if its scheme had not been brought into operation last year the shortage might have been greater. She hoped that when women wore put up for election women's support would he whole-heartedly given them, if only'because ilhey were women, To succeed they had to unite. "