Miss Butler, Luncheon by PWWA

MISS BUTLER.

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LUNCHEON BY P.W.W.A.

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Miss Kathleen Butler, secretary to Dr. J.
J. C. Bradfield, was entertained by the Pro-
fesslonal Women Workers' Association at a
luncheon at Farmer's yesterday. Miss Grace
Scoble presided at the gathering, which was
attended by a number of women from vari-
ous branches of the Public Service, as well
as members of the organisation.

Miss Scoble expressed her pleasure at the
way the women of the city had responded to
the opportunity to do honour to an Austra-
lian-born woman. She paid a tribute (and
all other speakers also) to Dr. Bradfield,
who, she said, had "dared" to place a woman
in such a responsible post. Positions demand-
ing initiative and ability were generally con-
ceded to be the prerogatives of man, and
they usually secured them. But Dr. Bradfield
had recognised Miss Butler's ability to fulfil
the post, and had appointed her to it, with
a corresponding salary.

Miss Wilson proposod the toast of "Our
Guest." Miss Butler, she said, had achieved
the distinction, among others, of holding an
administrative position in a department of 
the service where men are employed. Usually
women are only given administrative posts in
those departments where they have women
under them. Dr. Mary Booth said that con-
gratulations were due to Miss Butler for work
well done. The knowledge of this always
brought satisfaction. There had been many
noble women in the Public Service, whose
efforts on behalf of their own sex had paved
the way for greater opportunities for women. 
Among these were Miss Wearne and Miss
Duncan.

Mrs. Jamieson Williams, speaking of the
position of women in the Public Service, said
that they did not ask for privileges, but equal
opportunity and recognition with men em-
ployees. The idea that woman was a weak,
clinging individual for whom man must use
his protecting arm is an erroneous one. "The
women who have to earn their bread in the
service," she said, "realise that the protect-
ng arm is too often an exploiting arm. The
knights of old proved their prowess, and
fought for their womenfolk with shield and
lance. The modern knight is the man who
knows how to treat a woman as a comrade
and an equal."

Dr. Grace Boelke spoke of the early days
of the Professional Women Workers' Asso-
ciation, which was founded by her and Mrs.
Cooper Day. In America women were not
penalised by their sex. All that was asked
of them was that they should "deliver the
goods." Dr. Boelke spoke of the advances of
women, in countries where they are not en-
franchised, and said that this condition of
affairs reflected on Australia, where women
had the privileges of voting.

Miss Butler said that greater prominence
was given to the work of girls in England
since the war, and that their abilities were
being more readily recognised. She gave an
interesting technical description of the work
being carried out for the city railway and for
the bridge, and spoke of the numerous
bridges she had inspected during her tour of
America.

A vote of thanks to Miss Scoble for pre-
siding was proposed by Miss Belle Golding,
who referred to the fight that had been made
for equal pay for equal work. Women were
no nearer being granted this right, she said,
than they were 40 years ago.

Among those at the guest table were Miss
Butler, Miss Scoble, Miss Gladys Butler, Miss
Sadler, Mrs. Jamieson Williams, Dr. Mary
Booth, Miss Belle Golding, Miss Wilson, Mrs.
C. Edwards, Mrs. J. A. Gordon, Mrs. Walter
Walshe, Mrs, Simmons, Miss Harriott, Miss
Buring, Miss R. Enfield, Miss Seage.