PLIGHT OF SINGLE MEN

Evening Post, Volume CXXIV, Issue 69, 18 September 1937, Page 8

PLIGHT OF SINGLE MEN

(To the Editor.)

Sir, —There are many who agree with your correspondent "J.E." Possibly something is in view for youths under 20 years, but nothing for those over that age. There is an outcry for an increased birth-rate. If young men cannot get work, they cannot marry. I believe that many of these young men could be employed if the Government and other organisations genuinely wished to help. For instance, there could be a rule of one man one job, from the lowest to the highest position, and legislation to prevent married women, other., than those in necessitous circumstances, from taking positions, when their husbands, and in many cases other members of the family, are wage-earning. Here is another aspect of the birth-rate question. Young mar-' ried women going to work are not having families; in other cases, children are being neglected when bothparents go to work. Many positions filled by women could better be filled by men. To mention just a few —lift attendants, cashiers, packing and storework; even our theatre managers might consider a return to male ushers and attendants. Men over 50 years who had not formerly been in the Civil Service should not be put into positions in the service, thereby keeping juniors out.

Out of town, matters are worse. Farmers' sons come to town to take easy, well-paid jobs, whilst the farmers complain of labour shortage on their

farms. Many young men were unable j to get a position for several years during the depression. In preference to being a drag on these people, they have lived amidst severe hardships, and worked hard for a mere pittance in isolated camps. Their hopes were at last raised by promises to place them in work. These promises have not been kept. Vacancies on public works and other work in their vicinity have been filled by others not in such necessitous circumstances.May I point out to "Plodder" that there is no comparison between Hie post-war period and the present. The demobilised soldier was deservedly the most popular citizen. He had a substantial sum of money on leaving tne army, public opinion in his favour, and organisations to 'repatriate him, employers gave him preference, wages were good, and there was no discrimination between married and single. The young man, through the depression, had nothing to encourage him through the heart-breaking period. Employers could not help being hard hit themselves. The position of women and children became so acute that the slogan "Married men only" arose, regarding every form of employment. Single men had to exist in camps; there was no opportunity to learn a trade, or work of any description to pay for fees or books. And some of these are sons of soldiers who fought and died in the war.—l am, etc.,' LEST WE FORGET.