UNEMPLOYED WOMEN

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 138, 8 December 1931, Page 11

UNEMPLOYED WOMEN

NEED FOR REGISTRATION

A meeting of the Women's unemployment Committee was held in tho Town Hall yesterday afternoon, when (Mrs.) Colonel Swain presided. Tho Mayoress was present, and took some part in the presidential work.

The leading feature Ji! the' statements made was that a great many of the girls and women who most need help are not registering, and it was felt that it was impossible to cope effectively with the work unless they did so. Many stories of distress were continually being brought forward, and the committee considered that there is undoubtedly a great deal of suffering going on. But, at the same time, Mrs. Hunter, who is in charge of the registrations, said that she has quite good positions on her books that have been offered over and over again to those who come in, and for one reason and another they turned them 'down. Sometimes it was because the applicants wore not suited in skill for the work, and others because they wero not in town, or for some loss important reasons. The kind of work urgently needed was daily jobs for the older women. Mrs. Hunter urged all present to try and bring along news of places for these workers who were registered and really in need. She was emphatic on the question of there being work "to be had, and spoke with regret of the fact that only about 11C had registered. It was no use talkiu,, about distress if the people themselves would not come forward and register and become known to those who wished to help them.

A speaker said that the girls thought they were "asking for charity" if they registered, and could not seem to understand that there was no charity about it, but only the possibility of being provided with work that would keep them from needing charity.

The results in connection with the shop were reported to be most satisfactory. The shop had been open for six weeks, and during that time £135 8s 9d had been handed to the women and girls for work sold. The shop had been a great success from the outset, as it enabled those women who were unable to do domestic work to sew and make things for sale.

TJie executive committee reported that it had decided to convert the end clubroom for women over 40 years of age. In this room they could rest, sew, write, or do any little thing they required. Certain articles of furniture had been given, and further gifts would be very welcome. A gas stove had been fitted up in the room, and a sewing machine had been given. The film managers bad been most generous in their response, over 300 cinema day seats a week having been given. A hearty vote of thanks was passed for this generosity.

Tho committee expressed its most sincere thanks to Mr. Jamieson, of the Education Department, for the excellent work he had done as accountant for the shop. Mr. Jamieson attended every day, and kept all accounts in order.

It was with special pleasure that the committee reported that times were getting better, as there had been a smaller number of registrations, and most of these were women with husbands on relief work. Thanks-: were passed to the radio stations 2YA 'and 2ZW for their generosity in broadcasting requests for help. It was decided to close the offices for the holidays from the Thursday before Christmas till tho Tuesday after New Year....