RELIEF EQUALITY

Dominion, Volume 25, Issue 171, 15 April 1932, Page 6

RELIEF EQUALITY

Unemployed Women REQUEST TO MINISTER Reasonable Provision Treatment equal to that Recorded men was asked lor for unemployed women by a deputation which waited upon the Minister in Charge of Unemployment, Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates, yesterday morning. The deputation pointed out that women paid the wages tax for the relief of unemployment, and contended that women who were unemployed were entitled to benefits from the funds just as much as men who were out of work. If work were not available the deputation asked that sustenance be paid. In his reply Mr. Coates said that various central organisations would soon be called upon to meet the needs of women in distress The deputation, which was under the auspices of the Wellington Trades and Labour Council, was introduced by the Leader of the Opposition, Mr. H. E. Holland. Mr. P. Fraser, M.R for Wellington Central; Mr. R. MeKeen, MP. for Wellington South; Mr. R. Semple, M.P. for Wellington East; and Mr. W. J. Jordan, M.P. for Manukau, were also present. The first speaker was Miss O Connor, who said that many employers were taking advantage of the situation to exploit women workers. Girls were required to work 14 hours a day for seven days a week for a wage varying from 2/6 to 7/6 per week. The deputation was going to get what it asked for. 1 That was not a threat. They had discouraged their men who held thoughts of insurrection, but they no longer intended to do that. They were going to stand shoulder to shoulder with them, and when the women started to fight all she could say was, God help Parliament! Assisted Immigrants.’ Miss Carmichael mentioned the difficulties facing girls who had come out to the Dominion under the assisted immigration scheme. Some of tlie conditions under which domestics were working were little short of shocking. English girls had been deceived by incorrect statements about the conditions in New Zealand. The New Zealand girl ha(l a grievance against the immigrant because there was insuffltimt work for the colonials. The Immigration Department had promised fair wages to tlie girls brought out from the Old Country, and if it could not keep that promise it should pay them sustenance. It was stated by Mrs. Davies that women were quite prepared to pay the unemployment tax so long as they were recognised by the Government, which should provide them with work, and if that were not available, with sustenance. Single men who went into camp got their keep and shelter and 10/- to 12/-. a week, and she suggested that the Unemployment Board should provide women with some suit-

able occupation at. 22/- i>er week or pay them sustenance at that. rate. Women paid the tax when in work and were a Government responsibility just as much as men. To force women to pay the wages tax and then make no provision for them was imposing on the womanhood of the Dominion. Husband and Wife at Work. The secretary of the Wellington Trades and Labour Council, Mr. F. I). Cornwell, mentioned the case of married women who were in employment while their husbands also held permanent positions. He suggested the Government should appeal to employers to give chances to single women under such circumstances, though where there were cases of hardship a married woman should not be compelled to leave her employment.

Mr. A, W. Croskery said the women paid unemployment taxation and were entitled to the benefit of it. It was up to the Government, to see that they received those benefits. The women should participate in the things they paid for.

The secretary of the General Labourers’ Union, Mr. P. M. Butler, said the members of the Unemployment Board were taking their salaries out of the funds provided by the women, but doing practically nothing for them in return. Mr. Holland said a mass demonstration of women was a new development in the unemployment situation. The request made by the deputation was tt reasonable one. They had simply asked that they should receive from the unemployment funds what the men received. It was only reasonable to ask the Government to see that work was provided for the women, and, failing that, that sustenance be paid. Mr. Coates’s Reply. In his reply to the representations, Mr. Coates reminded the deputation that with the exception of Great Britain other countries in the Empire had done little for the unemployed. In several countries the unemployed were much worse off than they were in New Zealand. Every effort was being made by the Government to provide work for the people before easier means were resorted to. The Unemployment Board was now asking the different central organisations to send in their requirements arid tlie board would do its best to meet them.

Mr. Butler: The board is giving £5O a week to the Wellington Women’s Committee.

Mrs. Snow said a committee had already been set up to inquire into unemployment among women, and she inquired the whereabouts of Its report. Continuing, Mr. Coates said the central organisations would soon be called upon to make the necessary requirements la meet the cases of women who were in distress. The Government would not allow anyone to starve. The organisation to cope with the position would be as extensive as possible. Everyone receiving salary, wages, or income was called upon to contribute to the unemployment fund because it was realised that those who were in work should shoulder the responsibility of maintaining those out of work in a manner that would earn the approbation of all decent citizens. It was useless to talk about raising more money, because loans were not available. A Voice: Rubbish.

Mr. Coates said it was hoped to get the arrangements with the local organisations completed before the winter. The Unemployment Board would provide for all those in distress as the result of unemployment, leaving the hospital boards to look after the normal cases. The central committees would make reasonable provision for women in distress. It was his desire to organise the provisions for relief so that things would be better for those out of work. The great majority of immigrants had made good, and it was unfortunate there had been a fall in world prices. He promised to look into the points raised by the deputation.