UNEMPLOYED WOMEN

Evening Star, Issue 20778, 28 April 1931, Page 11

UNEMPLOYED WOMEN

ORGANISATIONS ACTIVE GOVERNMENT ASKED FOR ASSISTANCE Representatives of various vvomeu’s organisations mot in tho Town Hall yesterday afternoon to discuss the question of unemployed women and girls. The mayor (Mr 11. S. Black) was ni tho chair, and tho following were also present;—Mi's R. S. Black, Mrs Aslin (National Council of Women), Airs F. H, Hudson (Mothers’ Union), Sister Annie (Presbyterian Social Service Association), Mesdames ii. E. Nicholson, 0. B. Barrowclough, J. Aikniau, Mac-koy-Begg, H. M'Calluni, and Misses Hardy and Jean Begg (Y.\V.C.A.), Airs G. Al. Baker (St. John Ambulance. Association), Aliss J. Rnnciman (Tailoresses’ Union), Dr Siedeberg-APKinnon and Aliss Cove-Smith (Society for tho Protection of Women and Children), Aliss Young (Trained Nurses’ Association), Airs Glcndinning and Airs D. Phillips (Free Kindergarten Association), Airs T. C. Ross (Otago Women’s Chib), Airs W. Ross (League of Alothors and Otago Hospital Board), Adjutant Wood (Salvation Army), Alesdamos Hictt, K. Downing, and R. Alexander (W.C.T. Union), Airs A. Herbert and Airs A. L. Wigg (Housewives’ Union), 'Airs Gain (Good Templars), and Professor Strong (Homo Science. Otago University). The Mayor, in his opening remarks, referred to the seriousness of tho position, and said ho was sure that the City Council would meet any representation for help with practical sympathy. Ho stated that tho main question to ho considered was tho getting of all tho societies to co-oporato in order to avoid overlapping. There were 317 women and girls unemployed in Dunedin, and of theso 137 wore domestic, while the list also included quite a number of teachers, students, and girls who had no homos.

Airs Aslin. as president of the National Council of Women, outlined the work being achieved in other parts of tho dominion, and referred to tho deputation of women to tho Government in Wellington, from which she had just returned. Miss Joan Bcgg delivered an address on the work being done in Auckland through tho Y.W.C.A., and both speakers wore accorded a vote of thanks. On tho motion of the Mayor, seconded by Aliss J, Runciinan, it was unanimously decided that tho following resolution ho forwarded to the Prime Minister and to local members of Parliament in both Houses: —“That this meeting of representative organisations haying a deep interest in the welfare nf women views with alarm the tact that so many women of this dominion are out of employment, and consequently have no means of livelihood, and respectfully asks that tho Government take immediate action to alleviate the distress caused by the present position, which, if allowed to continue, will militate against tho best interests of the community.’’

The meeting also decided to form an unemployment committee, with Airs R. S. Black as convenor. An executive committee, consisting of representatives of the National Council of Women, Housewives’ Union, Salvation Army, Society for Protection of Women and Children, and Y.W.0.A.. was set up, and at the conclusion of tho main meeting the executive considered ways and means of setting up a campaign immediately. The intention of tho executive is to form groups of women and girls and make arrangements to have them taught arts and crafts with a view to holding a bazaar to dispose of tho goods. It was unanimously decided that something should be done immediately in order to prevent tho girls Irom being idle.