The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 11, 1907. EQUAL PAY FOR EQUAL WORK.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2208, 11 October 1907, Page 2

The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 11, 1907. EQUAL PAY FOR EQUAL WORK.

One of the real disabilities under which women labor at tile . preedit time is, not the restrictions which are placed upon their choice of employment, but the remuneration which they receive for their work. Unsympathetic man, who after all iis the ruling authority in these matters, does not object to employing women at work which has formerly been monopolised by the sterner sex, hut he does object .most- emphatically <to paying her the same wage as lie pays to male hands. The excuse usually formulated if complaint is made is ■ that the women are not capable of doing the work so well as the men. That in many cases may he true, but in not a few occupations the contrary is the case. This brings us ito the crux of the position. Where women do the same work as men, and do it equally well, they should receive equal pay. The principle was recognised .the other day by the local branch of the Teachers’ Institute, ' which included in its proposed scheme for classification of teachers the stipulation that there must be equal pay for equal work. Even in so democratic a country as New Zealand, it will probably be some time before women receive justice in ill is important matter, but those ■ who are working for the reform can find many encouraging instances of its operation in the United States. Somo attention lias beeii, given lately to the case of Miss Margaret Kelly! employed as adjuster of accounts in the Federal Mint. She succeeded a man who had been paid .£4OO a year, but sho was paid only £320 a year. The ease was brought under the notice of Mr. G. ill. Cortelyou, Secretary to the Treasury. The only .information ho desired was whether Miss Kelly was performing the duties of the position and doing the work satisfactorily. The Director of the Mint answered that she was, and j the only reason he could offer why she had not been advanced- was that she .had not asked for promotion, and was already receiving more than the average pay for women clerks. Mr. Cortelyou at once ordered the payment of the full salary. There are two women in the Bureau of Printing who draw £4OO a year each, and .there are women assistants in tile Departments of .Justice and Agriculture who, on succeeding to posts formerly occupied by men, were paid the usual salaries without question. In the Education Department the Superintendent of Indian Schools is a woman, drawing £OOO a year. Scores of such instances could be quoted. There are departments in which the prejudice against women still holds good, but taking the Federal service ns a whole, a woman who is qualified for a responsible position suffers no handicap because she is a woman. The consequence is that many women have been encouraged to specialise in their studies, and have gained highly-paid posts as experts. Thus the two Government experts employed to identify paper money that lias been burned, mutilated, or otherwise rendered unfit (for circulation, are both .women. The Internal 'KeveimC"Department employs a woman in its ;Pga! office, ? n d the official solicitors ieayo a great deal of important work .in her competent hands. Indeed, it would be difficult to name a Federal bureau in which women have not won their way to responsible appointments.

Tbo notice board on tlio Gisborne Bowling Club’s green shows 20 nominations for election as members. The membership of tlio A. and P. Society continues to mount up. Twenty-two new members liavo just been added.

Olio tohunga keeps a liottle oi Three-Star brandy as the panacea for tlio ills that flesh is heir to, so tlio audicnco was informed last evening. Goneral entries lor the A. and P. Show are duo to-morrow. A large number have already come forward, and, all things considered, this year’s total should top tlio record.

“It is said one cannot bo too just to a child, as any injustice rankles in its life. So it is witli the Maori. To make him a loyal subject bo just to him.”— Mr. Kolicre at last night’s meeting.

Several by-law cases will be heard on Monday. Three cases for obstructing the roadway by leaving vehicles in front of premises, and a number of summonses against cyclists for riding on footpaths are set down.

Tlio Rev. Mr. Bennett intends asking the publicans of Gisborne and district to follow tbo example ot their Hastings and Rotorua confreres, and post up in the bars notices regarding tlio liquor laws as they apply to Maoris. Though* instances of drink at tangis were freely quoted last evening, legislation has evidently brought about a much better state of tilings than formerly. “I recollect the time when a tangi not celebrated in liquor at the kainga was called by the natives a ‘dry’ tangi,” mentioned a Mapri speaker, “but the Maori Councils Act put an end to all that.”

“What you want to do,” said tlie chairman, addressing the Rev. Bennett last evening, ‘‘is to show I’ailian out that a majority of natives arc in favor of securing the pnvlege of local option ; then- our legislators must assent to it. 1 am sure that reasonable-minded Europeans cannot withhold approval. It is tho native who wants educating.”

A Maori speaker last evening attributed tlie disaffection in India to the fact that the Government bad been the cause of spreading sufficient education to undermine the native religions, without teaching Christianity in their stead. Personally applying the position be naively added, “If I were not a Christian I might take even a keen delight in being disloyal.” (Laughter.) The Turanganui Fishing Club held one of their periodical excursions yesterday afternoon, leaving the wharf in the Tuatca about 1 o’clock and arriving home again about 8.30 p.m. Tho weather was unfavorable for fishing, and the catch was a poor one. The club intend making another excursion on the 9th of November, providing the weather is fine, and will make a whole day oi it, leaving in tho morning.

The funeral of the lato_ Mrs. Morris, of Ruangareliu, Te Karaka, who pased away on Tuesday night, took place yesterday afternoon. Many friends and sympathisers attended the littlo Maori cemetery where the last solemn rites were performed, the Anglican clergyman officiating. Adjutant Dickens, of the Salvation Army, spoke a few appropriate words at the graveside, the deceased having at ono time been a prominent member of tho Salvation Army. Mr. Kolicre related last evening that after last election ho_ and a friend made enquiries to seo whether any half-castes had been influenced in voting on the licensing issue. Ono half-caste voted for continuance, explaining the reason as follows:— 1 I voted for it because somebody told me they would never sliout for me any more if I voted against it.”- (Laughter.) Tlio speaker, urging : that a separate native vote be taken, to apply in the form of prohibition against Maoris if carried, remarked: ‘ A true Maori lias pride enough to resent the imputation that his vote can bo bought for a glass of,beer, (Applause.)

There was a good muster at the weekly rehearsal of the Cook County Cuprious Coons, which was held last evening in the Grey Street Hall. Hie practice was confined to tho new opening chorus, a fantasia on negro melodies, and judging from last night’s performance the j company s first concert ought to be an unqualified success. Mr. N. Galloway acted as conductor, in the absence of Mr. Gray, and called forth the praise of the company for his able leadership. The members, who have settled down to work in real earnest, arc an enthusiastic lot, and the public of Gisborne may anticipate a first-class performance at an early date. Mr. W. D. Lysnar, who returned from 'Wellington yesterday, considers, from what ho was able to glean, that there is every prospect of the Harbor Enabling Bill being passed this session. There is not much for the Local Bills Committee to do regarding the measure, except to hear Mr. Bell on Ills suggested amendments. As to inclusion of Waiapu, Mr. Lysnar does not attach much importance to that, as he stated previously, so long as there is other provision made giving the Harbor Board the _ right to differentiate its charges oil Waiapu products going through this port. Mr Carroll will do liis best to hurry the Bill aloiig. On his visit to Wellington, Mr. Lysnar, as chairman of the Gisborne Oil Company, was successful in his mission. Or. Bell, Government Geologist, will, shortly return to New Zealand, and as soon as his engagements permit (the Hon. Mr. McGowan assured the deputation) he will pay an official visit to this district and make a geological survey to locate tho anticlines in the vicinity ol Wliatatutu. It is stipulated, however, that tho report must be Jam. on the table of tlic House beforo being made public. The Minister’s consent relieves the company of the necessity for getting an expert from Canada, which would entail large expenditure. The report will not he available till next session, but shareholders are not likely to chafe at the delay, as it •is '‘‘better to he sure than sorry, and no expenditure on boring will be incurred until there 18 reliable data to go Oil. i