WORK WANTED

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 121, 18 November 1931, Page 11

WORK WANTED

FAR J/vaMEN^ANp;; GIRLS;

Y.W.C.A. ACTIVITY

"Unemployment among * women .and girls in Wellington is. still'a' serious problem, and although jrccont registrations have shown a. slight falling-off in the number of unemployed, tho position is still such as, to cause concern to those engaged in women's social work.

In April last, a Friendly Service bureau Was opened under tKe auspices of the Wellington Y.W.0.A., and girls and women out of work were invited to register. Up till 12th November, registrations at the bureau totalled 1199, and 700 applicants for work had received positions. Permanent employment was secured for 480, and employment of a temporary nature was obtained for. 280.

Statistics indicate jthat unemployment is prevalent among girls and women of all ages. ,Last month there were 67 registrations!] One girl was under 15 years; thirteen, between 15 and 20; seventeen; betwoen 20 and 30; twenty-two, between ?0 and 40; and fourteen over 40. Oi the occupations the applicants previously held, 8 wero shop girls; 5, office girls; 5, from industrial work; 4, professional workers; and 45 from domestic duties. Last month's registrations show a decline, August's having been 118. The registrations Co i 1 September were 85. "We still want work, particularly domestic work," s,aid Jliss E. Scott, acting general secretary of tho Y.W.0.A., to a "Post" reportci to-day. "1 feel that there are nuin>ers of shop and office girls who are iiot registering for tho reason that they know that there is not much work ofibringi From time to time we have made appeals for work through tho Press aud over the air, and we btill want work; ;herc is still a very great need for it. There are numbers of middle-aged wonun whose husbands arc on relief work aid who are earning very little. These1, women want day work to supplement their husbands' earnings. We also have widows and older women, tho lajter not being eligiblo for tho old , age pension; iho last few years befne they become eligible for the pension arc very trying. A few days' work par week would help them a great deal. "Although we are not primarily a charitable institution we have given help to women who have been destitute, and during the past'six months we have given G63 meals ani 250 beds, all free. "From the beginning, wo felt .that we must holp thcs< girls to keep their morale, and with tlat cud in view have done all wo could lo give them friendship, interest in life, and occupy their minds. Wo started a series of classes, the most successful of which were the hand-work and tlib darning and mending classes. ByJthis means the 'girls weic able to cari a, littlo for themselves, £24 11s 6d! having been paid in uuges>. Two sal^s of work^voio held, and they broughtjin .W4 18s 3d. The disposal of the w»rk was without cost, and everything irj connection with the registrations' has Wen done voluntarily by members and iiieiids of trie'association." ■