THOSE TELEPHONE GIRLS. TO THE EDITOR.

Evening Post, Issue 128, 1 June 1895, Page 4

THOSE TELEPHONE GIRLS. TO THE EDITOR.

Sib— l read recently that a reform was about to be made in tho Telephone Exohange in the direction of retiring daughters of persons who are in independent positions to make room for those wa%ae parentß were in poor circumstances. I applauded this heartily, as a just move made by a people's Government. I was awaiting results, having a daughter who applied at the time the employment ot oadettes began, and hoping that her turn had now come, or that at least the Department would investigate the circumstances of those who had applied. But what happens has quite surprised and disgusted me. Under the fluid of the paragraph alluded to, I now hear that the Premier" has a daughter whom he wishes employed in the Wellington Exchange, and possibly we shall hear of other of his political friends getting a turn, and of one or two vacanoiea being caused to suit thorn. But we poor working men may wait and wait, and then be disappointed. Our daughters are quite equal in point of ednoation to those of the higher classes, thanks to a system of education introduced long before Mr. Seddon or his colleagues were thought of as rulers, and our turn must come soon to assert ourselves. I should be glad to know also if it is correct that one cf Mr. Seddon's daughters is a teacher in the Thorndon School, and if bo, it would be interesting to know how she was appointed, what her qualifications and certificate are, and the salary she receives. It may have all come about fairly enough ; bnt for a Premier's daughter to obtain a situation so soon after her arrival in Wellington, and at a school very handy to her home, looks, to say the least of it, as if some hidden influence had been at work. I am, Ac, Patiufamilias.