TEACHER TEST CASE

Hokitika Guardian, 5 August 1931, Page 2

TEACHER TEST CASE

MARRIED WOMEN.

DISMISSAL NOT AUTHORISED.

(Hu Teletjvaph—Per Press Association)

AUCKLAND, August 4

Judgment in favour of a married woman to. clier, and against the Auckland Education Hoard was given by Justice Herd man, to-day in an important test case. ' ’ v 'the Hoard asked the Court to decide what section of tlie 1* inance Act, 1931, empowered the Board to dismiss any teacher who was a married woman.

Defendant contended that the Act empowered the Board only to refuse employment in future to married women.

The Judge said to his mind it was plain beyond all question, that the Legislature’s object was to define the Board’s powers in relation to the appointment of teachers, The subject matter of sub-section six was the making of ft contract of employment, not its termination. If power to refuse to employ a female married teacher impliedly existed lit Core, it had now been expressly given. He was satisfied that the new proviso concerned appointments alone, and had nothing to do with dismissals. The proviso was not a separate enactment, and must bo considered in relation to the whole of the Education Act. The ccpstipc, tion he placed upop it {nvplyed po absurdity, and the purpose of if was pm pijstpkeablp.