WARM DISCUSSION

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 56, Issue 99, 7 February 1936, Page 3

WARM DISCUSSION

MINISTER AND WOMEN. DEPUTATION IN AUCKLAND. (Per Press Association). AUCKLAND, February 6. There was some plain speaking when a deputation from the Now Zealand working women’s movement met the Minister for Employment (the Hon. H. T. Armstrong) and asked that provision be made for the payment of sustenance to unemployed women on the same terms as to men, and that the Auckland Women’s Emergency Unemployment Committee be disbanded. The Minister, who had previously had a conference with members of the women’s committee, defended its action, and this led to a heated discussion with Mrs M. B. Soljak, leader of the deputation. The Minister said he realised that, as with men, there would be a lot of women not physically capable of earning their own living, and their position might be met by an invalidity pension. Some indication of the Government’s intentions in this direction could be expected shortly. This, and other matters affecting unemployment, had yet to be approved by the Cabinet. When the Minister mentioned the women’s committee there was an outcry from the deputation for its abolition. The Minister: We are going to recognise women’s committees everywhere. After some disagreement as to whether the committee had used its funds to the best advantage, the Minister said members of the committee had offered to disband, but he sincerely hoped they would not do so. Voices: They are all old maids. We want married women. The Minister: You had Mrs Soljak on the committee. Mrs Soljak, with some heat, explained her disagreement with the committee, leading to her resignation. The Minister: What is the good ot putting a woman like that on the committee when she is going to run away the moment her services are wanted-. “No Voice or Idea.” This again brought Mrs Soljak to her feet, with a further heated explanation, briuging the remark from the Minister: “If you want to make a statement, and not listen to me, you had better make it somewhere else. I wonder the rest of the committee did not run away. They would not be allowed to have a voice or an idea. If we had a committee to your liking, God help unemployed women.” ' After some' further interruptions, the Minister said the deputation had convinced him that there were more inefficient women in New Zealand than the members of the committee about whom they hacl complained. Mrs Soljak: That is unworthy ol you. J did nob come licie to be insulted. , . The Minister said he had heard nothing but insults to people who were just as sincere and conscientious in their work for suffering women as were members of the deputation. Ihe Government was out to rectify the present position, and the only thing that would prevent them was dissension in the ranks of the women, signs of which he had just seen. At this point the women left the room, some of them trying to have a final word as <they passed out to the corridor./