A Women Graduate on Equal Pay for Equal Work . . .

"The achievement of equal pay for equal work and equal opportunities for women is one of the last steps in the progress of woman from 'chattel' to person."

Thus began Miss Margaret Brand, one of the New Zealand Public Service Association's leading proponents of equal pay, when approached by "Salient" for a statement. Known affectionately as "Fire-Brand" among her campaigners. Miss Brand is a graduate (M.A.) from A.U.C. and V.U.C., and served a year on the Stud. Ass. Exec. at A.U.C. in 1947. She represents a South Island district on the P.S.A.'s national executive committee, and has been a spokesman for the Association, especially in matters affecting women members, on many occasions. Her statement continues:

"The step will cost money, and it is easy to say the country can't afford it. I am convinced that the obstacles to reform are primarily social, not economic, though most opponents of equal pay will not admit this.

"I would point out that countries with such varied economics as Britain, the United States. France, Russia, India, Indonesia, and six South American States, have adopted it without apparent disastrous effects. New Zealand can 'take'—economically speaking—the cost of defence, expanding social security benefits, increasing shipping freights, and general wage increases, and where necessary cushion the inflationary effects of these, without a fall in the general standard of living.

"Advocates of equal pay ask for its gradual introduction, but certainly want to see the emphasis on the word 'introduction.' The 'overnight-and-in-all-fields-at-once' school of thought seems, interestingly enough, to be confined solely to the opponents of equal pay.

"Probably most people in New Zealand would protest if girls were to be denied the same education as boys, or the same opportunity to sit school and and university exams. Once qualified, however, the girl finds she is less value when she enters the labour market because the belongs to the class 'woman'—which apparently has a monopoly of unsuitable traits as employees.

"Sometimes she is paid less for the same job, sometimes she is debarred from doing the same job. Only in a few cases has she the same pay and status as the man she is working with.

"Lower wage rates based on sex difference mark out women as being inferior and of less value than men, because in our society we tend to value things according to the price we pay for them.

"A cheap labour supply, too, from a male worker's point of view, is a constant threat to his wage rates.

"There are very real problems involved in achieving equal pay—for instance, deciding in some fields what 'equal pay' means, or what the proper level of pay in purely women's field should be. However, the problems have been tackled and solved in other countries. Determination, ability, and honesty of purpose could solve them in New Zealand."