WOMEN’S LIVING COSTS

Dominion, Volume 30, Issue 47, 19 November 1936, Page 4

WOMEN’S LIVING COSTS

Statement to Court

Some interesting figures relating to costs of living for young women, working and residing in Wellington, were given by Air. A. AA'. Croskery during the hearing of the AVellington Theatrical Front of the House Workers’ dispute, in the Arbitration Court yesterday. Air. Croskery said lie had sectjred his information from several local women’s hostels and Quoted it as an average only. It would be very difficult to arrive at exact or definite ruling figures, because of the wide variation. At the Girls’ Friendly Society they charged 22/6 for board, plus 3d. for the use of the iron. It was necessary for girls at that establishment to provide their own intermediate meals, and in the case of theatre attendants, many of whom did not arrive home until nearly midnight, it was necessary for them to have supper before retiring. At the Salvation Army Guest House, 28/6 was charged for single rooms, 26/- for double rooms, and 23/6 for rooms shared by four girls. There was also a charge of 3d. for the use of the iron. Morning tea was provided, but the girls had to supply their own afternoon tea or supper. Boarding charges at the Y.W.C.A. Hostel ranged from 17/6 to 23/-. ‘•The secretary assures me that the 17/6 charge is only for those girls in very poorly-paid positions,” added Air. Croskery. ‘‘She also says it is only arranged to keep such girls off the road. The average charge is about 23/- in this institution.” Air. Croskery said the secretary of the Y.W.C.A. hostel had told him that many working girls went to the cafeteria at the hostel for their meals, and if a girl fed herself properly, it cost her approximately 2/- a day for three menls. ‘‘Further, in the majority of cases, working girls have to pay quite substantial tram fares,” continued Air. Croskery. “In the cases of many theatre attendants, too, it is necessary for them to pay for several meals in town. That depends what duty they are on.. And to say that these girls, who have also to keep up a certain ■ amount of appearance in the interests of their employers, can live comfortably, or even decently, on the old award wages of £l/14/- a week, is absurd and ridiculous. They have to dress decently, have in some cases to have their hair specially done and use a certain amount of ‘make-up’ on their faces, all to present an attractive and smart appearance to their employers’ customers, but none of that expense is borne by the employers! The theatre managers would not like their staffs to work in sackcloth! They must be decently and smartly dressed, and I think my witnesses here to-day show that.” concluded Air. Croskery, indicating the 25 female theatre attendants at the back of the courtroom, all of whom were very smartly and prettily dressed.