EQUAL WAGES FOR EQUAL WORK.

Press, Volume XLIX, Issue 14759, 1 September 1913, Page 9

EQUAL WAGES FOR EQUAL WORK.

FABIAN CENSUS OF WOMEN BREADWINNERS. Why are not women paid tho samo wages as men? Tho old question is being investigated by tho Fabian Women's Group. "When wo advocate 'equal pay for equal work' for men and women we aro constantly met with the objection that women have only themselves to support," Miss Ellen Smith, organiser of the work of investigation, explained to a London newspaper representative. "We have now set ourselves to find out what tho facts "really are. The results tabulated so far havo been surprising. - ■ ONE THOUSAND TEST REPLIES. • These results deal with tho replies sent in by a thousand women workers to fivo plain questions, of which tho chief are: — Do jour earnings maintain you without assistance ? v Have you any persons entirely dependent on you for support ? Do you mako any contribution to the support of any other person or the upkeep of any household over and above the cost of your own board and lodging? . ■ The preliminary analysis shows that no fewer than 49.1 per cent, of tho women either wholly or partially support others. In the case of 29 laundresses the percentage rose to 8G.2, and in tho case of 2G6 teachers it fell as low as 33.7. "It is generally noticeable," Miss Smith observed, ''that as the income increases tho dependents become fewer. That is probably duo to tho fact, that, where a good deal has been spent on a girl's education tho family is in a position not to require her help when sho goes out to work. COMPARISON DIFFICULTY l "Of course, it is difficult to get any figures that can be compared straight away with those relating to men. For ! instance, if a woman goes out to work she often has,to get another woman into the house —perhaps her sister — to whom 6ho make 3 some payment. That other woman we don't reckon as a 'dependent.' In a man's case tho woman doing' the samo housework is nearly always his wife, and therefore a 'dependent.' • . The greatest possiblo care has been taken to secure accuracy aad impartiality in the returns. Between two and three thousand more replica aro awaiting analysis, and if sufficient money and help can be obtained tho area of tho enquiry will bo very largely ex-' tended.