An Every-day Problem.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVI, Issue 208, 6 September 1904, Page 4

An Every-day Problem.

0 'WHAT SHALL WE DO WITH OUR GIRLS."

"What shall we 40 with our girls" is an everlasting problem. Make them accountants seems to be one of the latest methods of solving the question—but there are difficulties in the way. At .Wednesday's meeting of the Institute of Accountants, in Wellington, says the Times, one of the members reported that a letter had been received from a lady stating she desired her daughter to sit for examination as an accountant, and if this were not allowed she would ''see Mr Seddon about it," with a view to halving the act under which degrees in accountancy are conferred altered So as to allow ladies to take these degrees. At present the rules of the Institute do not provide for ladies doing this sort of thing. The member who brought the matter forward thought the meeting should give an expression of opinion as to whether it considered ladies should be admitted to examination. Personally, he thought it would be cruel If they were allowed to sit for examination and were not granted the degree. During the discussion that ensued, Mr Gundry, of Christchurch, who attended tine conference of delegates in Sydney, said that the New Zealand representatives were the only ones present at that meeting who favoured the proposal to admit ladies to membership. The chairman (Mr P. Barr) said he could not see any reason for excluding ladies. Mr D. T. Stuart took a similar view ; he hoped to see ladies admitted to the institute. It was moved : "That, in the opinion of this meeting, ladies be permitted to sit for examination, with a view to becoming members of the institute." This was negatived. Thus, for the time being, there remains one calling in life from which women are to toe excluded—for a time. Women may qualify and practise as a doctor, solicitor, or dentist in New Zealand ; may take degrees in science and arts—but she is not to be allowed to sit for the comparatively trivial examination imposed on candidates for degrees in accountancy. The Legislature may probably take the opportunity how presented to it of opening the pathway for the weaker sex to avenues of employment in which women should be particularly suitable.