New South Wales.

White Ribbon, Volume 7, Issue 81, 1 February 1902, Page 5

New South Wales.

On Wednesday, Dec. 18th, a deputation from the Womanhood Suffrage League waited on the Public Service Board, and requested that equal opportunities and equal pay should be given to women employed in the public service as compared with men employees.

Miss Rose Scott urged that the openings for women in the public service should be extended. One of the officers in the Census Office had stated that the men worked better, and their behaviour was better, when they were associated with women. The Government Statistician also reported that in some instances the work of the women w’as superior to that of the men, in others it was equal. Mrs Martel spoke on behalf of the women teachers in the public schools. The women were paid at a much lower rate than men, although the same work was demanded of them. Frequently the girl pupils surpassed the boys in ex« animation tests, yet the women who prepared the girls for these examinations received less pay than the men who prepared the boys. Mr Delohery replied that the Board was endeavouring to carry out the intention of Parliament relating to the employment of women, whenever favourable opportunities occurred, but it was somewhat hampered owing to lack of proper accommodation in the offices. “ Fears have been entertained,” quoted Mr Delohery from the Board s Report, “ that the extension of the system will mean a loss of work for men, or, possibly, lowering their salaries. The Board say the apprehension is groundless. No doubt the employment of women in such places as are suitable to them will have the effect of curtailing to some extent the employment of men, but this will produce a beneficial result to the State, because an equal number of men will be compelled to seek positions which women cannot occupy, and will, therefore, be available to engage in occupations tending to develop the resources of the State.”

Mr Delohery stated that the Board had informed the Government of the w r ant of suitable accommodation for women in the public offices, and the deputation might rest assured that as accommodation became more liberal, the Board would not forget the women’s interests.— Woman's Sphere.