SECRET MARRIAGES

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22172, 27 July 1935, Page 14

SECRET MARRIAGES

WOMEN AT WORK ATTITUDE OF EMPLOYERS I POSITION IN AUCKLAND Most Auckland employers are maintaining the general rule not to employ married girls, unless it is proved that they are the only breadwinners of the family. Attention was re-directed to the question during the week by the publication of a cable message stating that the London County Council had removed the ban on the marriage of its women teachers, many of whom were ■ so id to be secretly married. j " While it is naturally difficult to ! obtain any data on the question of ! " secret " marriages in Auckland, the | fact that a number of cases have been | dicovered in several large establish- | ments indicates the probability that i there are many other cases which have i not come under the notice of manageI ments. i "It is a question whether we are ■ right or wrong, but we have a definite jrule on the subject," the manager of a 'large department store said yesterday, j" There are many arguments on both [sides, but since the depression came on | we have made it a rule not to engage | any married girls, and if a girl already in our employ gets married she must leave us. -If she can afford to get married, we consider, she can afford to relinquish her job. Of course we have a number of married women on our staff, but they are old servants of the firm, and we see no reason why they should be dismissed."

Another large employer expressed the opinion that every case should be considered on its merits. There were a number of instances in which a definite wrong might be committed by dismissing a married woman. His firm had no hard and fast rule in the matter, but considered that on general principles it was unfair to allow a husband and wife both to occupy positions, one of which could be filled by another person more in need of it and fully capable of holding it.

lhe Auckland Education Board's ban on married women teachers who are not sole breadwinners is maintained. "There are still 300 teachers without permanent employment, and until the position in this respect is alleviated, there seems no likelihood of the present attitude being changed," said the secretary of the board, Mr. D. W. Dunlop, yesterU u* V " ,n reply to a question that he could not recall a case in which a " secret " marriage had been discovered.