Women’s Local Government Society: MR. WALTER S. B. MCLAREN, who presided over a meeting at Caxton Hall last week, said the Women’s Local Government Society had accomplished the work it set out to perform—the removal of the sex disability on the governing bodies of municipalities and other local organizations. The work they had immediately on hand was the extension of the qualification for election on county and borough councils. Mrs. Allan Bright, in moving a resolution urging the Government to adopt Dr. Shipman’s Local Government Qualification Bill, said in 1893 there were only 169 women Guardians in the United Kingdom, but now there were over 1,100. This was a strong argument in favour of throwing open the door for the admittance of women to county and borough councils. Mrs. Pinsent, of Birmingham, paid a tribute to the work of women on the late Birmingham School Board and the present Board of Guardians, and said the excellent work of these women had created a feeling among the city councillors that their ranks would be strengthened, and their power of administration increased by the election of women councillors. The only way for a married woman into a city council was over her husband’s grave, but she was not prepared to take that route. She made a strong plea for the inclusion of women on Asylums Committees. At present all the details of asylum life, even to the matter of women’s clothing, are attended to by men. She contended that as women are good economists, local administration would be more economically worked if women were allowed seats on the local councils. The resolution was carried unanimously. At a business meeting which preceded the public gathering, a resolution was passed calling for the appointment of more women inspectors and women relieving officers.
Transcribed in whole or part from scanned originals: Presented with or without modified text and punctuation. For absolute accuracy refer to the original newspapers. Source: The British Newspaper Archive
Referenced
GRO0245 Devonport: Ellen Frances Parker: 1866 – 1949