CORRESPONDENCE.

Temuka Leader, Issue 235, 12 February 1880, Page 2

CORRESPONDENCE.

[ Wa do not hold ourselves responsible for the opinions expressed by our correspondents j SCHOOL COMMITTEES AND OLD LADIES. TO THE EDITOR OF THE IkMUJCA LEADER. . Sir, —I noticed in one of your last week’s ie aes some jocose remarks by your-contri-bntor “ Dapitano,” on the election of a lady,to serve on th* Nelson School Committee. He says, “’an.old lady.” but wo have no evidence to sho w that the lady in ques ion was old, though, even if the case be so, that should be no objection, as we have it on high authority that multitude 6f years should speak wisdom.” Setting aside the question of age, however, can your co tributor urge any real good reason why ladies' should not servo om these committees ? W« drily see them, both old and young, ‘‘maids, wives, and widows ” engaged iu 1 u ness on their on n account; they are empl yod in railway refreshment rooms, in telegraph offices, and in public si hools. In the neigabouring colony of Victoria I knew a lady wjio was a member, and not one of the least, efficient, of a Road Board.

If a church wants building, or supporting, or a charitable society organizing, is not the formation of a Ladies’ Committee one oif the first steps taken 1 Ladies do not disdain to delight our e rs with their dulcet voices at our public entertainments, and in each of three of our churches, at G< r.ldino the ii sru ; e :-a’. p rt of the music is und-r the charge of a lady. Why then should it he so preposterous a thing that a lady should bo elected on a School Commit'ee ? Again, have not the mothers of tho children an eqn dintereafc with then-fathers in seeing that matters connected with their education are going right ? or are they not as well qualified to judge in the matter?

I believe there is nothing in the Act to specify whether the “ householders ” eligible for election are to be male or female ; and when we consider that there are as many girls as boys attending the public schools, I think 1 ' the wonder is rather that ladies do not in more in stances than they do, assert their right to have a voice in the deliberations of the Cemmittees.

I am. etc., Rusticus, Geraldine, 10th F b., 1880.