The Women Teachers of Southland

Southland Times, Issue 14684, 2 July 1900, Page 3

The Women Teachers of Southland

A meeting of the women teachers of this district was held in the Education Board Room yesterday, when there was a large representative gathering. The object of the meeting was briefly explained by Mit*s Birss, who Btated that, as the Minister for Education had promised shortly to bring in a colonial scale of salaries, the time was deemed opportune for the women teachers of New Zealand to indicate the disabilities under which they labour, and ti urge tbe Minister to establish the principles cf equel pay for equal work, irrespective of sex. Miss Birss then referred to the fact that ;hey had present Miss Sheriff Bain, a lady who had done pioneer worh in this cause in Southland, aod who had made her influence felt in other districts in any direction which tended to improve the position of women. She concluded by asking Miss B*in, in recognition of her valuable services, to presido over the meeting. Miss Bain, in a few graceful wordp, thanked those present for the honour shown to her, and proceeded to explain the resolutions which had been d awn up at a preliminary committee meeting. Tne principles underlying the resolutions were : jequal pay f< r equal work, and the eligibility of women for » 11 positions in the Department of Education. Seven years ago Invercargill led the way in asking for tht se reforms, but Canterbury was now advocating them and was presenting a large and itflueotial petition for their adoption. Authors, artists, Ittwyerr*, doctors, eto, wera remunerated irrespective of ccx ; and when the teaching profession rose to the level of the other professions in paying equal wages for equal work, and in considering women eligible for its highest positions, the workers in every sphere of labour would benefit accordingly. Amongst the anomalies which were dealt with it was pointed out that a woman teacher in a country school, while fulfilling the same duties as a man, is paid 10 per cent less ; and that the mistress of a town school although ranking second on the staff, is paid the same Balary as the fifth assistant. Miss Bain read the petition drafted by the convenirg committee for presentation in Parliament. Amendments were suggested by Misses McLeod, Birss, Lea, Perrin and Hamilton, and accepted by the meeting. The teachers presenb then signed tbe petition, and after Miss McLeod had moved a vote of thanks to Misß Bain for her kindness in presiding and for the skill and tact she had shown during the proceedings, the meeting closed.