GIRLS IN INDUSTRY.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVIII, Issue 18571, 25 November 1920, Page 7

GIRLS IN INDUSTRY.

FIFTY THOUSAND IN SYDNEY. "There are 50,000 working girls in Sydney to-day, and 30,000 of them are employed in factories," said Mr Bagnail, in the Legislative Assembly, in applying for leave to introduce a Bill designed to bring about equality of pay for men and women. Mr Bagnall urged that tho exploitation of female labour must-cease, and that oil the remaining barriers against women attaining the status of men should be cast down. He instanced the Education Department as a shocking example of tho differential treatment of women. From 12,000 to 15,000 women would be affected by the proposal to abolish differential rates of payment, but in order to guard against possible disruption in industry he proposed that the increases in pay involved in the measure should bo spread over a period of five years. . " Fifty per cent of these girls have entered the field permanently, for the war has killed so many men that they will be debarred from marriage," said Mr Bagnall. J)r Arthur, in supporting the Bill, said that far too many young girls were employed ha factories, and he advocated tho fixing of sixteen years as the minimum age for employment. " Old-favshioned ideas have become an obsession with Dr Arthur," said Mr Biookfield, " but we have known him to run out of the House on occasion rather than support his own motion. His idea of higher pay for married men would be disastrous to those he wishes to help, for the exploiting employer would replace them by single men. In any case, it coats a single man as much to cart bis girl around to parties and pictures as to keep a home-"