SLOW PROGRESS

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 8, 9 July 1931, Page 9

SLOW PROGRESS

UNEMPLOYMENT BILL

SHORT TITLE PASSED

POSITION OF WOMEN

The debate on tho short title of tho Unemployment Amendment Bill occupied eight hours at yesterday's sitting of the House of Representatives. The.short titlo was agreed to at 12.43 a.m., and the Prime Minister then moved to report progress, tho* remainder of the Committee stages being left over until to-day. Tho Leader of the Opposition (the Right Hon. J. G. Coates) said ho did not believe in the principle of taxing women; it was the last thing thoy -should attempt. It was not possiblo to initiate a scheme of employment for women, and inevitably assistance must be given them iv the form of sustenance. Furthermore, why should women provide funds for the employment of men. Mr; D. G. Sullivan (Labour, Avon): "But they want to be included in the Bill." Mr. Coates .maintained that if the women were taxed as was proposed, the fact would remain that the money would be used for the employment of men. He said he understood from the Y.W.C.A. that there were some 750 women unemployed, and tho association had placed some 240 in positions. The association feared that immediately a fund was created for the assistance of ■women the numbers of women looking for work would double or treble. If it/was necessary to .seek contributions from women, Mr. Coates suggested that the only practicable inannor of providing employment for them was through tho social organisations. Mr. P. Eraser (Labour, Wellington Central) declared that the House had decided when the original Act was passed that it was necessary to'pay sustenance. Parliament intended it to be done, but the Government had not carried- out the intention. Tho Primo Minister (the Right Hon. G.. W. Forbes) contended that no definite contract had been made in tho matter. He felt positive it was never the intention of the House that sustenance should be paid. * The Leader of the Labour Party (Mr. H. E. Holland): "Then why was 'the sustenance provision put in the Bill?" Mr. Forbes: "I believe that what was in the minds of members was that if we were in a position of not being able to provide work we might have to face an alternative of that sort.". . . We have not reached that stage yet by along way." Mr. Sullivan said that tho Women's National Peace Council and other women's organisations were definitely asking for provision to be made for the inclusion of women in the Bill. EX GRATIA PAYMENTS. Mr. A. Harris (Reform, Waitemata) asked whether tho board would provide employment for women out of work or was the tax on women simply an ex gratia payment. The Minister of Labour: "Tlio honourable gentleman will recogniso that if a bank manager loses his job ho has no right to demand work. I will say definitely that it will not be the policy of tho board to hand over money to women by way of sustenance." Mr. Harris: "That is quite sound, but I think the House is entitled "to know if the women will be entitled to some benefits. I know that under the existing law the board has power to provide work for women, but I think we are entitled to know whether or not there will be a policy to provide for women out of work." Mr. Smith said that there were 35,000 women in New Zealand earning salaries or; wages over £250 per annum, 65,000 women' earning less than £250, and 3000 receiving incomes, other than wages or salaries, of over £250. He thought that they were justified iv asking women who were fortunately placed to help with tho unemployment problem. There were women in the Government offices receiving £250 per annum and working side by side with men who had wivos and families. Surely no one would object to women working ;in competition with men being asked to contribute to the unemployment fund. The Government was not yet in a position to make a declaration of any policy in respect of unemployed women. A Labour member: "You never will." Mr. Smith said that) if the Labour Party camS into power to-da.y it could not'keep all its promises to tie unemployed. It could not raise £9,000,----000 to provide full work at standard rates of pay, and also raise additional money to provide full rates of pay for women out of work. Tho Minister said it would be very nnwise for tho House to insist on definite promises being made until the problem of unemployment among women had been especially investigated by the committee tho new board would set np. That committee would make its recommendations in duo course, and the board could then take definite steps in the directions proposed. The only definite pronouncement he could make at the moment was that the Government would not agree to the payment of sustenance for those without work, even on behalf of women. NO GUARANTEE. Mr. H. E. Holland said he had waited in vain for a statement from, the Minister as to tho actual provision of work for the unemployed. The Minister had said that no sustenance would be paid and he would give no guarantee that work would be found for women. Did that mean that work would be provided for the men? "Tho Labour Party," added Mr. Holland, "will resist any attempt to put a tax on women unless i£ is accompanied by the provision of work when the women are unemployed. There is no justification for the taxation of women unless they are to receive the benefits of the Act."

Mr, A. M. Samuel (Beform, Thames): "Could the position be mot by ear marking tho funds subscribed for women only?"

Mr. Holland: "The Minister has not said that. No line of distinction should be drawn between tho sexes, and the unemployed should be treated as unemployed." Mr. 11. A. Wright (Koform, Wellington Suburbs) said that he did not mind Yvbmen. with good incomes being taxed, but it was wrong to tax women who were earning between 25s and 30s a week and keeping themselves. It had been said that women were competing with men, but women had never received as much as mon for tho same job. Many single women had not only to keep themselves, but also to provide for their old age.

Mr. Sullivan said it looked as though the Minister must either provide work for women if they were to be taxed or withdraw the clause proposing to tax them.

Tho short title was passed at 12.45 a.m. and the House adjourned.

Such of tha cable, news on this pnnu as 13 *o headed bas appeared In "The Times" and Is cabled to Australia and New Zealand by special permission, It should be understood •Ihat the opinions are not tboso of "The Times" unless expressly slated to be so.