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Taranaki Daily News, 22 November 1919, Page 4

WOMEN AS ADMINISTRATORS. Mr. J. Clarke, who was recently installed as Mayor of New Plymouth., in the course of his remarks at the ceremony, said that women were taking more interest in public life than men were, and the time was coming when they would be sitting on the Council in a majority, acMing that he did not say it was going to be a disadvantage to have women on the Council. In these times of change much is happening that our forefathers would have deemed impossible, and not the least of the progressive innovations is the position women are occupying in nil spheres of practical and intellectual activities. All the professions are now open to women, many of whom have made their mark and reached the front rank. Now that they are eligible for a seat in Parliament it may be that they will seek and obtain representation on the various public bodies which administer local affairs, in order to prepare themselves for Parliamentary work, for it is generally regarded that the experience gained on Borough Councils, County Councils, and other local boards is valuable as a step-ping-stone to the highest assembly in the land. A lady occupant of the Mayoral chair is not unknown in New Zealand, and we have only to glance at the list of University successes to see how women are equipping themselves intellectually for the future welfare of the country—and themselves. Women's growing interest in scientific investigation is demonstrated by the fact that of all the experiments on animals last year in England and Scotland, thirty-six per cent, were carried out by women, 214 experiments being carried out by Miss Chick, of the Lister Institute, where valuable information was obtained on the feeding oi children. Admittedly (he number of women either aspiring for administrative honors or possessing the necessary qualifications for success in that sphere of action will be comparatively small. It is none the less apparent that they may prove of great service on borough and other councils, especially where the health of the people is one of the matters dealt with. Women have naturally a finer and truer intuition than men, and those who enter public life are animated with the progressive spirit that is so mucii needed. Their presence, therefore, on public, bodies should be welcomed as an advantage, as well as an indication that the equality of the sexes is now an accomplished fact. At the same time the Mayor's remarks form a strong indictment of the men for their apathy in public affairs. Possibly the prospect of being ousted by women may act as a spur to the fulfilment of duties that make for the well-being of the community.