WORK AND WOMEN

Press, Volume LXII, Issue 18634, 8 March 1926, Page 2

WORK AND WOMEN

CONDITIONS IN AMERICA. AN EXPERT'S VISIT. Interesting views of the Labour outlook in America, more particularly as it relates to women, were expressed in Wellington by Miss Alice Henry, of the American National Women's Trade Union League. Miss Henry lias been making an extensive tour with the object of studying conditions abroad, and in 1924 she was an interested visitor to the International Labour Conference at Geneva. Miss Henry said that although the American Labour movement itselt was not numerically as powerful in proportion as it was in many other countries, it was still quite a live force, and was doing very effective work in the industrial field. It had no political development, and there was no Labour Party. When asked for a reason for the lack of numerical strength, Miss Henrv said that one of the reasons had been that when difficulties arose in the Eastern States there was always a way out—to the unopened lands of the "West. That outlet, of course, was now closing, and industrial difficulties would have to be faced in other ways. Then, of course, the vast number of nationalities was another difficulty in the way of progress. . During one industrial struggle in Chicago ■it had been necessary to put out the literature in ten different languages, and to have separate organisers for the different nationalities. An Englishman had once expressed the opinion that the reason why the Labour movement had not gone ahead more rapidly in America was that there was no class distinction, but Miss Henry said that she was not at all sure that that view was a correct one._ There was little or no class distinction in the British colonies, vet the Labour movement had flourished. ' Efficiency Aims. In one direction the American Labour movement had. particularly successful, said Miss, Henry, and that was in the direction of organising women The National W r omen'6 Trades Union League , had done a great deal towards educating women, increasing their power, and encouraging initiiativ© and responsible lity. Conditions in the large factories said Miss Henry, were very good. The objects of the Trades Union League were as follow: To provide a common meeting ground for women of all groups who endorse the principles of democracy and wish to see tliem applied to industry. To encourage self-government in the workshop. To develop leadership among the women workers, inspiring them with a sense of personal responsibility for the conditions under which they work. To ensure the protection of the younger girls in their efforts for betteF working conditions and a living wage. To secure for, girlß and women, equal opportunity with boys and men in trades and technical training and pay on the basis of occupation and not on the basis of sex. To secure the representation of women on industrial tribunals and public Boards and Oommissiones. To interpret to the public generally the aims and purposes of th«j trade union movement. ~ . . . Educational Movement. The League had. carried out much useful and educational woi'k on the lines of the Workers' Educational Association in New Zealand, and it had also co-operated with other women in setting up two very effective bureaux —the women's bureau and the chil? dfen's bureau. The children's bureau had carried out investigations a£ to the conditions covering the employment of children and had also sent out a great deal of literature much on the lines of the Plunket Society in New Zealand, bearing upon infant life. Child labour legislation, said Miss Henry, was in a very difficult position at present. A_ Federal law had been passed giving Congress power to legislate upon child labour up to the age of eighteen, but this had to be confirmed by 36 of the 48 States. The law was at present going through that , process. Another matj ter which had been taken up by the [children's bureau was that relating to the Federal Aid to Maternity Act, which provided for a Federal Government contribution to every State, that will accept it for the establishment of maternal clinics. That had only been in operation for about three years, so that they would be Just beginning to feel its effects. Wages and Scope. Miss Henry said that wages in America were not'fixed by law as was the case in New Zeaand. There was no Arbitration Court. An agreement reached between employers and employees were as the result of private arbitration. Certain States had fixed minimum rates of pay for women, but the validity of such legislation had been questioned, and a blow had been struck at minimum wage legislation. At; present it was very much in the background. The American Federation of Labour had never desired that such legislation should be made to apply to men. Probably this was a reflection "of the American idea of individualism. "Women had greater scope in America than they appeared to have in other parts of the world. Miss Henry declared. Not only were they given a plaoe on Boards and other public* bodies, but they were also appointed to important paid positions.