H.—22a

8

very zealous and active. They can only, however, be fairly judged by the result of such reforms as they have been able to carry out, and they will doubtless be satisfied to be so judged. Any one who reads the evidence of Mesdames Wells, Henderson, and Black, given during this inquiry, must be at once satisfied as to their special qualifications for membership on a Charitable Aid Board. Re Election of Boards. Another matter to which some prominence has been given is the present mode of election of members of the Board. There would seem to be ample ground for suggesting that the time has arrived when it should be very seriously taken into consideration whether the system of election should not be on a more popular basis, and whether the period for which the members are elected should not be at least three years. These are matters to which I can do no more than thus briefly refer, in the hope that they may be deemed worthy of further serious consideration. The full evidence taken before me is forwarded herewith. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this 15th day of February, in the year 1906. H. W. Bishop, Stipendiary Magistrate and Commissioner.

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