NOT A GREAT MANY.

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 186, 8 August 1930, Page 5

NOT A GREAT MANY.

MARRIED COUPLES WORKING.

INQUIRIES BY MISSIONER.

ONLY FIVE LETTERS RECEIVED.

While there has been considerable correspondence relating to married women in employment, there seems to be reluctance on the part of people to point to specific cases in which they consider injustice is being done. Only five letters have been received by the Hev. Jasper Calder, City Missioner, directing attention to cases where husbands and wives are both earning, as a result of his offer to investigate the position of married women holding jobs which might easily be held by struggling single girls. "As I stated when inquiries into the question Avere first instituted, I think the number of cases of married women in employment is not particular 1 y great," said Mr. Calder this morning. "Information of the nature that I offered to investigate is coming in by degrees, and I am investigating it in a friendly way. I am not holding the pistol at the head of anyone or any firm." The City Missioner said that in four of the letters he had received the writer w<is' given, together with the name of the married woman, the name of the husband, the name of the firm, j and the money that the pair were earn- | ing. He was inclined to regard those communications as genuine, because of their frankness. In each case he was forwarding copies of the letters to the firms, acquainting them of the position. In one case that he had investigated it was true that a married woman was earning, but her husband was in casual work only, and she was a specialist at her work. It was hardly likely that she could be relieved of her duties by anyone without a year's experience. When* thf; woman was absent through ill-health the firm admitted that it was thrown into consternation. The woman herself said that even under present conditions she and her husband could just keep going Avitliout making headway. "We are not out of the hunt yet," she writes to Mr. Calder. Couples With Cars. Two of the other cases referred, said the missioner, to Avomen Avorking while their husbands occupied excellent positions. In each case tho couple owned a car. Another complainant expressed appreciation of Mr. Calder's action in investigating cases Avhere hardship was being done to "single girls Avho are starving." She referred to a Avoman whose husband was a motorman earning £3 a Aveek. The couple Avere said to live in tAvo rooms and to own a motor car. Tho remaining letter mentioned a firm Avhich Avas engaging five married women, one of whom Avas married on a recent Saturday and returned to Avork tho following Monday. "I am inquiring into all cases by degrees," said Mr. Calder. "I do not want to quarrel Avith any firm, and, besides, on investigation there might bo special circumstances about the cases. .1 am merely asking questions about married couples Avho are working, mentioning to firms that I think that possibly they Avould like to knoAV tho position. That is as far as I am prepared to go."