SHOULD BE INCLUDED

NZ Truth, Issue 1293, 18 September 1930, Page 18

SHOULD BE INCLUDED

Women Have Won Right To Receive Benefits Of Government's Unemployed Bill THE OPPORTUNITY IS GOLDEN V- % ' (By Mrs. Marshall Macdonald, Otago Hospital Board member, m a special interview with "N.Z. Truth.") . F Unemployment looms largely m the public eye and mind at the present time, and one. heard with delight that our wise legislators were about to introduce a bill to alleviate this distressing , condition. • . ' '

pERUSAL of the Bill, however,' T brought great disappointment, no provision ' whatever having been made for the unemployed women workers, of whom there are nearly 2000 m the Dominion at the present time. Surely some Rip Van Winkle must have lent a hand m the compiling of this Bill! The Governor of Hawaii, m welcoming the delegates to the PanPacific Conference, said: "The world is a better place to live, m to-day, by virtue of the fact that women are taking a part m State, national and international affairs." Women have shown that they are able and willing to play their part m the public life of the community while still maintaining their interests m the home. Economic conditions have forced them into competition with men. To-day almost every trade and profession is open 'to them — nothing stands m their way. But let it be clearly understood \ '

that it is not with a desire for competition that women are entering trades and professions which were formerly the "strongholds" of men. Necessity demands it. Then, again, many women and girls are m receipt of salaries and wages equal to, and, m some cases, m excess of those of men. These women should gladly wel-

come any scheme to alleviate the distress caused by unemployment, and would, I am sure, be equally glad to share the benefits of any such scheme. v If not, what resource . have they when unemployment faces them? No relief but that of charity. It is also a charge on the women of New Zealand who are free from the spectre, of unemployment to lend their aid ih agitating for .the inclusion of women m the provisions of the Unemployment Bill, even if it spells taxation for all women. > - Our representatives m Parliament have here a grave responsibility and a golden opportunity. It is to be hoped that the National Council of Women will take up the cudgels on behalf of the women workers and m this cause show themselves "mighty as an army with banner^."