"ON THE BREAD-LINE."

Auckland Star, Volume LXII, Issue 117, 20 May 1931, Page 8

"ON THE BREAD-LINE."

UNEMPLOYED WOMEN. DANGER. OF DEGBADATIOIf, rPRIME MINISTER'S COMMENTS "Immediate action is needed to formulate a scheme to alleviate distress among unemployed women, and girlg j n Auckland, and to save the moral fibre of womanhood, as the present state of affairs is compelling them to sell themselves in order to live," declared Mrs E. Stone, who headed a deputation of women from the New Zealanders' Federation to the Prima Minister this morning. The deputation was introduced by Mr. G. C. Munns, M.P. In introducing the delegation, Mr. Munns said that they were concerned with the unemployment among, women and girls in Auckland. It was estimated that there were 1000 women and girls out of work. A number of employers, said Mrs. Stone, were taking advantage of the present time, when there was so much unemployment, and were paying women and girls who found temporary work wages on which they could not live. Mr. Forbes asked the occupation of the unemployed women, and was told that they were mostly domestic servants and factory hands. « Mr. Forbes: What is being done by the charitable organisations? Mrs. Stone said that they generally asked particulars of people applying for aid, and then told t hem to return the following day. The Hospital Board was not able to give the federation grants, because it. concerned itself with unemployed married people. The Prime Minister asked if there was any special organisation taking an interest and raising funds, and Airs. Stone said that an Auckland society devoted one-third of the proceeds of a Sunday entertainment to the cause. "There is so much unemployment among women in the other towns in v New Zealand," said Mr. Forbes. "Many employees in shops and offices have lost their employment owing to the shrinkage of business, and the question .of what is to be done to alleviate hard-, ship is a big one." Mrs. Stone asked if something could not be done arding the employment of married women whose husbands were also working. If the employers could be persuaded to put such women- on halftime employment it would provide a certain amount of work for the needy. Mr. Forbes: That could only be done by the co-operation of the employers with an organisation such as yours. There is a field for organisation for collecting the facts, because there must be a number of charitable-minded people in Auckland who woxdd assist if the facts were laid before them. Mrs. Stone mentioned that the federation had applied to the City Council for a street collection to be made. "There are a number of girls on the bread line," said Mr. Munns, "and it' was the object of the federation to saVe them from degradation." , "You are entitled to credit for that," said Mr. Forbes, "and I would suggest that you see the Hon. S. G. Smith, who has the matter under consideration." , . jr., >.;!>.