WOMEN'S EARNINGS.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1196, 3 August 1911, Page 5

WOMEN'S EARNINGS.

EVIDENCE IN SYDNEY. By TeleeraDh- -Press Assoclatlon-Oonvrient Sydney, August 2. At the silting of the Shortage of Labour Commission evidence was given that women workers in factories earn from six to eleven shillings weekly. One woman stated that, finding her own cotton, she earned six shillings a dozen for skirts, and three shillings for shirt blouse 6. WOMEN WORKERS V. MEN. Should women's wages equal men's? was the question which Air. Justice ileydou, of the New South. Wales Industrial Court had to decide last week. The workers in the boot trade sought an award providing that when women were operating certain machines they must be paid at the same rate as men. His Honour said it was admitted that the amendment asked for was intended to prevent, and would prevent, competition of women with men in that branch of factory work. That was indeed tho only way in which it could be looked at. it was not a claim by the women—they were not represented, and put in no claims—neither was it a claim for women, for there was no authority to represent them. It was a claim by the men, for tho men, that a wage should bo imposed upon women that would shut them out, and women wore not heard upon- it. The whole question of the competition between made anil female labour was one of ; groat importance. In the natural development of industries • tho wages of women had been less than the wages of men, probably because they were not family bread-winners, and perhaps, too, because in some industries they were not as valuable workers. Whether that state of affairs should be altered, and the wages of. wpuieu made equal to thoso cf men for similar work, was a debatable nucstion, very proper for the Legislature to.consider: He did not think it would ba right for tho Court to lay it day as a general principle, because he did not think that the Court was intended to bs a revolutionary, but a conservative, tribunal, holding on existing lines, following developments, and not reconstructing the industrial _ edifice, according to anv special economic views. 'i'he appeal was dismissed.'