Random Notes

Southern Cross, Volume 1, Issue 28, 14 October 1893, Page 9

Random Notes

“Now they’ve got the franchise they mean to use it.” Such seems to be the opinion of a member of the Education Board upon the recently ‘ liberated ’ section of the community. Their equality with the lords of creation a number of ladies seem determined to assert, viz., the female assistant teachers in the service of the Board of Education. Led by Miss Bain, the energetic advocate, locally, of woman’s rights, the ladies have petitioned the Board to have their salaries placed on something like equality with those of their male compeers. “ Equal work, equal pay,” is their argument, but, ladies, let me humbly ask you, do you also seek equal responsibilities ? Is your positior, too, so hard as you seek to make out ? After learning of your action I hastened to make myself acquainted with the financial condition, so far as salary is concerned, of the Southland teachers, several of whom in both town and country I am pleased to number among my esteemed friends, though perhaps they know it not. Here is one specimen of the “ Injnstice of Women ” unearthed during my investigations. Lady in charge of school of 38, salary £l2B 3s ; gentleman in charge of school of 39, salary £143 4s, or £ls Is more than the weaker vessel in a school exactly similar. But—we find there is always a but in such matters, and the BUT here the ladies quietly ignore. Have we not to consider the social fabric in apportioning salaries ? The gentleman above referred to has several encumbrances in the shape of wife and children, and surely the additional £ls is all too inadequate for their support if the lady in receipt of the lesser salary noted finds that it does not suffice to keep her in bodily comforts and also pay her little millinery bill. “ But ,” the ladies may say, “ the Board ought not to consider a man’s social condi tion in apportioning salaries !” If such is your position, ladies, then the “ struggle for existence ” must become all the harder, and the levelling process employed will not certainly be “ levelling up ” but “ levelling down,” by taking from the male teacher that accretion which is made to your salaries. If you, then, in your single-blessedness find your salaries inadequate, what shall we say to the members of the other sex who have so many depending upon them for support ? In looking at the recent action of these lady teachers, it strikes me that so soon as the majoritiy of the signatories discover a fellowteacher of ’tother persuasion prepared to run in double harness with them, they will drop their petition like something exceedingly unpleasant to handle, and be all too anxious to see the salaries of their yoke-fellows go up with leaps and bounds. It may not be out of place to direct our ladies’ attention to the reported action of not a few employers on “ the other side ” just now. Married employees die being dismissed and single men substituted since they are willing to work at a lower rate of wages. Let them look, too, at the Old Country ; since woman has invaded the lighter branches of employment, e.g., clerkships, what has happened to the salaries ? Why, too, in the colonies is there an unwillingness on the part of young men to enter the teaching profession ? To each of these questions the ladies are doubtless well able to give a true and satisfactory answer. Let them remember, too, a fact often brought under their notice, that few, if any, of their sex, adopt teaching (or any other profession or trade) as their life work, but merely as a temporary occupation until they are able to enter the sphere where woman considers her true duty to lie. Burke long ago lamented that “ the age cl chivalry had gone.” There are still a few sparks, feebly flickering perhaps, but still sufficient to give a healthy glow to our nineteenth century civilisation. It is in woman’s power to fan these embers into a warmer glow or to ruthlessly extinguish them. Which is it to be ? Were the women of the colony generally to copy the example of our local “ women’s righters,” I fear that a serious deterioration in the character and moral tone of society will at no distant date be the inevitable result. , The daily scribbling contests between Rational (?) and Rabid Teetotallers is still going on in our daily broad-sheets. Like the poor, this question of “ Prohibition ” is always with us, and those who discuss the matter so learnedly in our dailies may be able to give me some little information as to what in rational temperance language is a “ seven-days boose!” In an inland township of some size, and within sight of Mount Anglem, there resides a notable, somewhat advanced in years. Among the multifarious functions discharged by this personage is that of general factotum for the owners of the various business premises on what is considered the main thoroughfare of the aforesaid rising township. His attention to his duties ishighly praiseworthy, except when, occasionally—“ the maut gets aboon the bree !” Recently this untoward circumstance occurred when one at least of his clients was desirous of calling his services into requisition. In response to the urgent solicitions to attend to his usual duties the reply was made in tones and manner which, alas, cannot be reproduced by any process of typography—“ Can’t do it, sir. I’m out on a seven-days’ boose.” The heavy lurches which accompanied these words led his interrogator to inquire as to the stage reached. “Six days,” was the answer,'

lt To-morrow [i.e., a Sunday) finishes, and I’ll be with you on Monday sure.” There are several hotels in the township referred to; which of them enabled our gentleman to complete his seven days’ operation ? It is easier, I fancy, to aslc than to answer that pertinent question. Possibly “ Rational ” teetotallers would compliment the hotelkeeper concerned on performing “ a work of necessity and mercy.” The “ shop ” is shut up at last, the “ Talk Shop,” I mean, and the honourables have taken their flight homewards, with their last month’s screw in their pockets, and their heads full of the many notions which they intend to spring upon electors of both sexes in order to secure their votes. Already intending candidates, mindful of the familiar proverb which has the early worm as its subject, have started their crusade, and soon shall we be able to say, with that—- “ The isle is full of noises, Sounds and sweet airs that give delight and hurt not.” They hurt not, we may confess, but what good will much of the noise produce ? The member for Wallace is the last individual one would think of as performing a “ gymnastic feat!” but his last week’s exhibition can be classed as one ; one, too, of a very high order. Indeed, the hon. gentleman has easily beaten the record, for as far as my knowledge of post-sessional addresses goes, I cannot recall another single case of a speech being delivered by a member before the session itself became “one of the things that were.” “More power to you, sir, and many more such able feats may you perform,” is the ardent wish of Vox.