UNEMPLOYMENT.

Press, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20647, 9 September 1932, Page 14

UNEMPLOYMENT.

WORK OF THE WOMEN'S COMMITTEE. TRAINING FOR WORKLESS GIRLS. At last night 5 s meeting of the women's branch of the Christchurch Citizens' Association the president, Miss Trent, reported on the work of tho Women' Unemployment; Committee. There appeared to be some misconception regarding the way the Government had treated unemployed women, Miss Trent said. Sympathy had been expressed because women were taxed, but got no beneAt from unemployment funds. The position was that the Government had never refused the committee money that the committee had shown could be well spent. The greatest number of unemployed women and girls who had registered was 190, and if women did not take the trouble to register it would not bo fa.ir for the committee to ask-Jotf more money. Training BcHemo.

i ' The training scheme for girls "was an. accomplished fact, Thjey had the sec- | ond floor of the Majestic Theatre build- | ing, where there was a beauttful light, I airy kitchen. The training was being given by a qualified teacher. Everyone they had'gone to for supplies had I made concessions—everybody except the Municipal Electricity Department. That department was in such a position financially that it could wot afford to give the committee, free current. A deputation had, waited on the Electricity Committee 1 , but th.e chairman almost made a political matter of it, and expressed the opinion that the Government should pay, and not the City Council. They were still having acrimonious conversations with the chalk man about the matter. The Gas Company had told her that ehfc could, choose any range in their showroom, and have It for half-price; most generously the company was giving them gas Sit halfprice. vOno stipulation made wbe% the women promised to work for the All Nations Fair was that pome" of the money should be available for unemployed women, but they_ had seen nothing of that moody.

No Need To do Hungry. Miss Trent vigorously denied the acr cusation that the committee was training a group of young women to hirS them out into slavery, practically, at 2s 6d n week. That was not tfue. They Mere training the girls in cookery and laundry work, and trying to make them good domestic helps, and better citizens in the future. At the end of their training it was hoped that tliey would be absorbed in their ordinary employment, or in, domestic duties.By arrangement with tho Y.W.C.A., homeless girls were provided with good lodgings, the committee subsidising tho Y.W.C.A. up to 12s 6d tt week. At the depot 6681 meals had been provided in «ix months. Absolutely there was no chance of any "unemployed woman going hungry if she went to the depot. Wonderful Work. Mr S. F. Marshall, secretary of the Citizens' Association, said that he had listened with great interest to Miss Trent's account of the work of th<s committee He had had no idea that unemployment amongst woman had reached such proportions. Mrs A. T. Fraer said that there was great need for .men's working clothes, especially coats. Mr. S. G. Holland, chairman of tho Citizens' Association, said that ho thought that it was simply wonderful that a band of women should do such magnificent work without any blowing of trumpets-or beating of drums. He thought it was a crying shame that the City Council should spend £7600 in subsidising relief workers, but could not give free power to teach unemployed girls to cook. To Buch a state of things they ought to object stronglv. Miss Jones, a member of the Women's Unemployment Committee,

said that, excepting the noMOW&jt|| from the Government had no income. £2500 given by the mittee to the Mayor's tress Fund, she for the electricity used of unemployed girls shwM'Wjjpt i from that sum. ' 1 SEASONAL WQ?™| MANY PUT OFF REL |i^^w-' ) As a consequence of tfo 1 effect of the scale of relief workers, about » , tliwifli , ed , n» l ' ft W l the Freezing Worsen? ?tym* ' «! been put ojt roUel-protJai' $PBfflM past few days. " j. '' « aimSi The secretary or tfift' .yfflaSrag Freezing Works, and Union fMr H. C. B«flß[AgH| terday that the men' - map WmSm fied with the n * r WMW§|fflffl| thing that they hod ordinary work had they were left with v&vF&fisSSm wore not eligible to and the chancy of their only hope of ayft W?%^^a The seasonal* work*r) dissatisfied with *M r Jp&raaßl to-nieht a meethie of WWJfm&»9 bo held to consider ** u reopening negotiations wI ploymenlj, Board. iy<adiaßßß|