S.A.Register Mar 22 1889 p7 c

TO THE EDITOR

Sir — It is not unusual for politicians of the megatherium type to smile at any claims to the attention of the Government which women see fit to urge on behalf of their sex. Although our Premier may deem it necessary to sometimes plank his foot or even his slim shoulders against the Government door, we may not relegate him to the above category, since he still has youth, energy and aptitude to "move on". It is, however, occasionally important that those in power should be reminded that women constitute. for good or ill, a factor of the State, and he is a shortsighted statesman who fails to realise this truth in all its many sidedness, or who persists in closing his ears to their claims when they are equitable and reasonable. The claim for assistance in founding an institution for the domestic education of our girls is based on the following: — 1. The State has assumed the responsibility of the education of all its juvenile citizens, has determined the age at which they shall go to school, the hours that they must pass there, and the goal they must attain before they are permitted to leave. 2. There has hitherto been found no adequate connecting link between the school curriculum and the probable pursuits of the child after leaving school. 3. The Government has recognised this on behalf of the boys, but has taken no steps to secure equal advantage for the girls. 4. The girls are equally with the boys the children of the State. 5. It is almost unanimously declared that such an institution has become a public necessity. On these grounds we base our claim to some assistance in founding a Home of Domestic Instruction. I may add that it was hoped in the initiation of this project that there would be no necessity to "knock at the Government door," but it has been before the public for nearly two years, and still the funds contributed are insufficient to warrant the committee in venturing upon commencing the work even in a modest way. Some have promised support when it is commenced, but the difficulty is in the commencement, as it is quite expected that if the programme is fairly carried out the Home will before very long become selfsupporting in a great measure. A spirited effort was made by Mrs. Charles Birks, who held a drawingroom bazaar at her residence, Knutsford, Glenelg, on the afternoon of December 15 last year, which realized £30, and other ladies of the committee have contributed and collected. The Adelaide Board of Advice has approved the scheme, and recommended it to the Minister of Education, who was pleased to grant a courteous interview to a deputation from the committee without result to the present. It is hoped the Government will see the justice and expediency of granting, as in the case of the boys, the necessary premises, and conceding a subsidy in a measure proportionate to that granted in support of the technical school for boys.

I am Sir, &c.,

MARY LEE

Hon. Secretary

Queen's Home of Domestic Instruction

North Adelaide, March 21