AN ASSET TO THE STATE.

Auckland Star, Volume XLVIII, Issue 138, 11 June 1917, Page 2

AN ASSET TO THE STATE.

SAFEGUARDING GIRLS. THE QUESTION OF WAGES. A plea for the girls who are to be the mothers of the future was made at the Arbitration Court this morning by Mrs. Baunie, who appeared on behalf of the union in tho Upholstresses' dispute. There was. another aspect to the case, she said, and that was_ the. social, moral, and human aspect. The. girls should be given- the right to live a full life such as would- make- them an asset- to the State. The women, it was stated, would be largely responsible. for the rebuilding of the.nation after the war, and it behoved us to treat tho girls in such a way as to be for the-good of the community as a whole. Anything which waa detrimental to the State, was economically unsound. Many- girls, lived at home and were, in consequence, able to take work at lower wages than if-they had to pay board t while they could spend practically the whole of their money on dress, which, unfortunately, many of them did. This, however, should not be taken as a criterion in- fixing the standard of wages, and every opportunity should be {riven a girl to live a fnll normal life. Sornp. women, it was stated; did- a few hovrs.' domestic work before going to their work in town. This tended not only to impair their efficiency for business, but placed so great a strain on them as to be a menace to their health. Allusion was also made to the moral effect upon a girl who never had a penny to come and g-o upon. A normal girl, it was stated, wanted a certain nmount of amusement and wae entitled to it, if only to break the monotony of work. Tt was not possible, concluded Mrs. ■Raume. to keep a cirl mornllv pood unless she was in snch iv position that she was morally independent.