EQUAL WORK AND PAY

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 664, 16 May 1929, Page 7

EQUAL WORK AND PAY

RIGHTS OF WOMEN WORKERS CASE FOR TEACHERS STATED Press Associatio t GISBORNE. Wednesday. "That the principle of equal pay for equal work for women in every department be recognised by the Government,” was a remit from the Gisborne branch of the National Council of "Women moved at the Dominion Conference of the council today by Mrs. H. J. Walker. Mrs. Walker said unequal remuneration was objected to as much by men as by women, since it imputed that women were given many positions at a lower wage which otherwise would have gone to men. In seconding the motion Miss Osborne, Gisborne, said the fault lay very often with the women, who were too apathetic to strive for their rights. Miss A. Basten, Auckland, sugthat the remit be altered to the following:—“That the council urges that the principle of equal pay for equal work for women in every department should be recognised by the Government.” Miss E. A. Chaplin, Christchurch, said this had been a bone of contention in the teaching profession for , many years. Once upon a time there was not an ”M” and a “W” at the head of teachers’ paysheets,, but there was today. . Mrs. E. J. Moore, Wellington, said efforts were made to combine men and women in the Post and Telegraph Department to secure equal pay for both sexes, but many of the women would not join the movement. The remit was carried. The Wellington branch forwarded the following remit:—“That the council should approach the Minister of Education asking that marriage should not be a bar to the employment of women teachers.” Miss Osborne. Gisborne, asked if there were specific instances of employment being refused married teachers. Miss Whitelaw. Dunedin, said no married women teachers were employed in Otago unless their husbands were injured or otherwise incapacitated from earning. Mrs. N. E. Ferner, Auckland, ad- ' aneed the view that according to the law of the case any position should go to the applicant with the highest grading marks, whether man or woman. Should such issue be taken to the Courts she believed it would be so decided. Miss E. Melville, Auckland, said it cost the. country a good dea.l to train each teacher, so why should, not the State get the benefit of that preparation? Mrs. J. Cook, Auckland. said the practice was occasionally abused. She knew personally of one case where the husband was very wealthy, yet his wife was employed as a teacher. The motion was carried.