BITTER OUTBURST

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXVI, Issue 19156, 12 April 1932, Page 4

BITTER OUTBURST

MARRIED WOMAN TEACHER. •WE ARE PERSECUTED." An impassioned outburst by a delegate, alleging “persecution” of married women teachers, caused a rm'd sensation at a meeting of the council of the New South Wales Teachers' Federation in Sydney on March 12. The president, Mr A. McGuiness, had just complained of having received discourteous letters from married wom?n teachers. “I received this morning a letter. c that was rather offensive,” he said. “The federation has done everything possible in the interests of married women teachers. I regret mast bitterly that the people most concerned will not read the press and the federation journal and find out what we have been doing for them. It is a pity to get letters now upbraiding the federation.” Mrs Hitchcock (Parramatta) (jumping up and speaking heatedly): A gentleman just behind me has made a very discourteous remark. Married women teachers have undergone persecution for weeks. The press and public opinion have been against us. Our case has never had a fair hearing. We do not know what is going to happen to us. We have been kept in suspense, and our nerves are frayed. Members of Parliament admit that they know nothing of our side of the question. We cannot get our point of view published. “We have the right to work,” Mrs Hitchcock added. “Because we marry, you men desire to take from us the work we love best. At the same time we are expected to keep quiet. We are not to appeal to anyone for help. Mr McGuinness alone is doing his best for us. Nobody else is doing anything in our cause. We are in a desperate state of worry at what we have read in the press.” Mr McGuinness: The federation has done everything it could do on behalf of the married women teachers. Dr. Curry; As deputy-president of the federation, I say to the married women teachers that the federation is taking every step that is expedient.