courtesy that was due to her sex, and that she had every facility given to her for the work which she undertook to do; and he could say, what probably Miss Kendrick could not say, that she had done that work remarkably well. She had shown very great discretion in confining, to a considerable extent, her operations to that part of the work which she knew she was best fitted for, and for which she was specially appointed. What had been done in the School Board he felt sure would be done at the Board of Guardians, and he did not think there would be the slightest objection on the part of the Guardians to admit amongst their ranks a certain number of competent women. He believed that if admitted they would supplement the work of the Guardians, to the great advantage both of the ratepayers and of the paupers themselves.

The Rev. Canon BowLBY moved and Mr. LAKIN SMITH seconded a resolution: "That in the opinion of this meeting it is desirable that duly qualified women should be elected on the Boards of Guardians of the poor in Birmingham and the neighbourhood, and that an association be formed in Birmingham to promote the election of women who may be willing to serve."

Mrs. OSLER said that this was one of the very few matters in which, there was really nothing to be said on the other side. They did not wish to supersede men as Guardians, but they were convinced that the work required the combined intelligence and the separate distinctive qualities of both sexes. This subject was freely discussed in the press ten years ago, and had been very fairly tried in London and elsewhere with useful and satisfactory results. Two ladies had allowed themselves to be nominated, namely, Mrs. Ashford and Mrs. Bracey Perry, who had already displayed great capacity for such work.

Mr. CLAYTON and Mr. STOUT, Guardians in Birmingham, also spoke in approval of the resolution which was carried unanimously.

The Rev. J. C. BLISSARD proposed that the following persons, with power to add to their number, be appointed a committee to frame rules for the guidance of the association, and to report at a future meeting:

Canon Bowlby, the Rev. J. C. Blissard, Mr. Bishop, Mr. J. Herbert. Mr. R. F. Martineau, Mr. J. H. Chamberlain, Mrs. C. S. Heap, Mr. Arundel, Mrs. Crosskey, Mrs. A. C. Osler, Mrs. C. G. Mathews, Mr. H. Lakin Smith, Mr. A. N. Hopkins, Mr. J. C. Lord, and Mrs. C. E. Mathews. This resolution was spoken to by Miss Sturge, Mr. E. O. Smith, and the Rev. H. W. Crosskey, and was also carried unanimously.

Much diversity of feeling was expressed at a recent meeting of the Birmingham Board of Guardians. Mr. BISHOP, in pursuance of notice, moved, "That, in the judgment of this Board, it would greatly contribute to the more efficient working of the poor law system if women as well as men were more generally elected to seats on the Boards of Guardians throughout the country." He remarked that the resolution had been curtailed to meet an objection which the Chairman had against it. He had not the slightest wish that the Board should dictate to the electors, as it was thought would be done if the resolution was passed in the form of which he gave notice. Indeed, he had not the thought of politics in the matter at all. Surely, if there was any question outside the region of party warfare, it was the one as to whether women should form part of Boards of Guardians. In bringing forward the resolution, he had not been prompted in any way by the organisation which existed in London, and a branch of which had been formed in Birmingham, to promote the return of women on Boards of Guardians. He had for a long time entertained a conviction, which had been growing and deepening in his mind, that women were more fitted than men to discharge some part of the duties of Guardians of the Poor. In some special departments their services would be invaluable. It would be an advantage to have sensible and capable women on every Board with whom the matron of the workhouse could consult on matters connected with her own department, and who should have the oversight of the women's and children's wards in the workhouse. If women Guardians were placed on the House Committee and visited the female paupers they would find appropriate scope for the display of their kindliest and most helpful sympathies.

Dr. BARRATT seconded the resolution.

The CHAIRMAN offered to put the resolution to the vote at once, but was stopped by several Guardians. He said he intended doing so advisedly, because whatever the Board did they could not bind the ratepayers to any particular course of action.

Mr. DYSON said the resolution seemed to imply that the Guardians felt unequal to the work they were elected to do. The language of the resolution was in effect that the change would tend to " more efficient work." What in the world did they want more efficient than they had at present? They gave their time, and did their best, and had succeeded in a great measure, although of course they could not please everybody. What in the world did they want? Did they want to bring some "Virgin Diana," or some "Sybilite widow," to

the Board to advise them. He asked what sort of person would have the modesty to come forward as a candidate for a seat as a Guardian amongst a number of gentlemen? She would be a "blue stocking-a strong-minded woman." Mr. Bishop had appealed to the sentimentality of the Board, and had endeavoured to work upon their fine feelings with reference to the poor women in the workhouse. They had had too much of sentimentality, and he should like to see it seasoned with a little more common sense. He hoped they were not going to abandon themselves to the disgrace of letting it be known throughout the whole of the country that the Birmingham Board of Guardians felt themselves inefficient to discharge the duties of their office, and must call in the assistance of Lady Guardians.

Mr. JARVIS said there were many occasions when assistance could be rendered to the Board by lady Guardians. He had taken part in the movement because he thought it was one free from politics or party feeling. The resolution was then put to the vote, and carried by 17 to 14.-Birmingham Post.

LEEDS.-A very influential deputation of gentlemen interested in poor-law administration recently waited on Miss Louisa Carbutt, and invited her to allow herself to be nominated in the forthcoming election for the Leeds Union Board of Guardians. Miss Carbutt acceded to the request, and will probably be elected in April.

CHELTENHAM.-A small committee has been formed in Cheltenham for the purpose of promoting the election of women as Guardians. Mrs. Ryder, of 19, Clarence Square, and Miss March Phillips, of Wellington Square, Cheltenham, have consented to come forward as candidates.

BRISTOL.—An influentially attended drawing-room meeting was held at Goldney House, Clifton, on Jan. 31st, Mr. Lewis Fry, M.P., presided, and there was a large attendance, including the Revs. J. Penny, F. Wayet, T. Gray, W. C. Prideaux, C. Strong, L. H. Byrnes, Phelps, A: Wilson, Lady Harding, Miss Fry, Miss Clifford, Mrs. James, Mr. and Mrs. Herapath, Mr. M. Whitwill, Dr. Beddoe, Mr. Alan Greenwell, Mr. G. H. Leonard, Mr. Edward Leonard, Mr. S. Worsley, Dr, E. Williams, Mr. Derham, Mr. T. Pease, Mrs. Watson, Miss George, Miss Elliott, Miss Venning, Mr. Barlett, &c.

The CHAIRMAN announced the receipt of letters from a number of friends who were unable to be present. The Bishop of Gloucester and Bristol wrote:-"Dear Miss Fry, I am sorry that diocesan work will call me

or

back from Bristol on Monday evening, and that I cannot have the pleasure of being at your meeting. I have been a poor law Guardian myself, and, from what I know of the duties, can see no reason why women should not be supported if willing to undertake them." Canon Mather wrote that "his hearty sympathy was with the meeting in endeavouring to secure the election of a lady candidate-or candidates-as Guardians of the poor, which for many reasons was most desirable." Mr. Killigrew Wait wrote: "I most earnestly hope that the meeting will resolve energetically to support one more woman candidate in the interest, and in the interest only, of the many helpless children inmates of our workhouses to whom the sympathy and insight of a few intelligent women would be invaluable." Rev. R. Glover thought that the presence of judicious and kindly women on a Board of Guardians could work only good. Rev. Arnold Thomas was heartily in sympathy with the object for the promotion of which the meeting was to be held, and would be glad to render any help in his power in connection with it. The Rev. J. B. Clifford very much regretted that his health would not permit him to be present to express his earnest hope that some ladies would be returned at the approaching election. Mr. A. F. Woodward had sent a message of sympathy, and considered the desirability of supporting the election of women as poor law Guardians very great and important. Canon Clarke, the Rev. Dr. Gotch, Rev. J. M. Wilson, Rev. C. H. Wallace, Rev. W. Cornford, Rev. J. T. Allen, Rev. W. B. Doherty, Rev. W. Hargrave, Rev. G. Bowden, Rev. U. R. Thomas (who had very warmly supported the cause), Mr. Budgett, Mr. Leech, Mr. G. Somerton, Mr. David Macliver, Mr. Austin, and other gentlemen had also written regretting their inability to attend. Mr. Fry went on to state that he need say but few words in introducing the subject which they had met to consider. The crowded state of the room showed that a great deal of interest was felt in the matter in Clifton and the neighbourhood. The arguments in favour of women being poor law Guardians seemed so obvious, and there seemed to be so little to be said against it, that there was really

very little for him, as chairman, to say or do. When they considered to what extent Guardians of the poor were concerned in the management of women and children, it seemed obvious that the knowledge and intelligence of women were essential to the proper and successful conduct of the work. In their households they left the treatment of the poor who came to their doors to the ladies, trusting to their penetration, good sense, and economy, and he need hardly say that the domestic management of the household was left entirely to women. He could not suppose there would be any considerable difficulty in the practical working of this matter if women were found more largely on Boards of Guardians. Women had worked well on School Boards, and in this matter also he believed the difficulties would disappear in the practical working of the Board. At any rate, in such matters their proper and true policy was not to raise artificial barriers. Let them not exclude woman from those duties which many of them thought she could most successfully perform without first of all giving the matter a fair test.

Mr. ALAN GREENWELL announced that two good candidates had been secured in Miss Clifford for Westbury, and another lady for Clifton, but he hoped other lady candidates would be forthcoming, and that every effort would be made to secure their election. Taking all movements, philanthropic, social, religious, or charitable, there was scope for both men and women to work, and he thought this was particularly the case in regard to the administration of the poor law. He held that this was a work which could not be efficiently performed unless women were united with men in the discharge of it, while there were several duties required of Guardians which could only be efficiently performed by

women.

Mr. EDWARD LEONARD, Mr. MARK WHITWELL, Mr. T. PEASE, late Chairman of the Barton Regis Guardians, having also spoken heartily in favour of the movement, the Rev. L. H. BYRNES moved a resolution pledging the meeting to support the election of two or more lady Guardians at the next election. Dr. BEDDOE seconded the motion, which was carried unanimously.