'Ms’ forbidden

Press, Volume CXVI, Issue 34132, 20 April 1976, Page 6

'Ms’ forbidden

fA’.Z. Press Association) SYDNEY. The staff of the Australian Department of 'Social Security have been told by their Minister to avoid using the terms “Ms” or “M/-” in letters and to find out if i their correspondent is I Mr, Mrs. or Miss. j Senator Margaret GuilI foyle, the only woman in the 'Australian Ministry, has told her staff that people can be (offended by the use of a I form of address ■inappropriate to their status. ! The department knew 'enough about most people to find out their status, she said. If someone had written to the department signing herself “Jane Smith,” then

.the reply should be addressed “Dear Jane Smith”. The Minister’s note of instruction to her staff on the matter is simply signed “Margaret Guilfoyle.” Australia’s mesdames and misses are divided on the Minister’s action. The Victorian Labour senator, Jean Meltzer, a Mrs, said she wasn’t really worried and thought Senator Guilfovle's stand was "irrelevant.” A Melbourne lawyer and Women’s Electoral Lobby member. Eve Mahlab, said she thought it was a woman’s privilege to decide how she should be relevant.” Mrs Dianne Boland, president of the Women’s Action Alliance, said women should have the right to choose, and those who wanted Ms should have it, but it should not be foisted on women who did not ask for it. A sample of women canvassed in the street was split about 50/50 about half said the Minister was quite rijht to abandon the term, while half said the women should be able to call themselves Ms if that was their choice.