WOMAN AND WAGES.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 592, 21 August 1909, Page 11

WOMAN AND WAGES.

|. Tlie Brisbane Wornea's Conference went on very safe Hues, says an: Australian writer, when it advocated the raising,,of : ,the<woman worker, to a better financial status.'"' There are. two", good reasons for a yiototian;l , ady's-oontentipn, . that, given , ', eciual'capdoityi ra-.jWonian should i reooive.'the'.'same wage.' Elie. gets: tho same..results..' : First, there .is' the - fact that' in many occupations—notably 'clerical workwomen .hqre <':oe : en! under-cutting,men on the salary...lists of every, otl|er important-business house in . Australia. , And, : though- it .be granted.that most women'workers have , some-. . one on ■ them, we must still regard men as the brcad-winnors of the nation.' Secjr.dly, women thomselyes.suffor from their own eagerness tb work- tco : cheap. They are obliged,, to live in a' "scriipi)y" way thatwould kill an ordinary man. With, a sketchy breakfast, a; more sketchy lunch, -and intermittent ideas.on the-- ; subject of dinner,,.they gradually UDdorr mine their constitutions. They aro of ten working hardl for. pay that a man would, very,properly "consider not a living wage,•';■ With the aid of a . gas ring '• and r a ronted'rbpm|. the xl'nmau.lvfhd works cheaper than a. roan is not oiily : > injuring - heTself—she is, hurting'posterity. Out.of much garrulous wandering into political byways, the Women's Conference will-not hayo faikd if it { achieves ■ this.' one result—an. or- , 'ga'uised effort. ;to prevent women. from , , uhllercutting men -in ; the world's markets \\ ■-,■■./