BASIC WAGE FOR WOMEN

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 19142, 7 October 1925, Page 14

BASIC WAGE FOR WOMEN

COURT DEFINES POSITION. NO DEFINITE SCALE FIXED, THE QUESTION OF DEPENDENTS. The contention that the wag«s o! women should be directly governed by the rise or fall in the basic wage for men was advanced in the Arbitration Court yesterday during the hearing of tho tailoresses* dispute. Miss A. E, Cossey, who appeared for the union, in asking for a minimum wage of £3 a week called attention to the recent increase given to .female bookbinders, "That is the n ".rest approach to a living wage yet granted to the womeD of the Dominion," she said. " The clothing trade workers are, however, mere essential than the book-binders, and cannot be done without. We ask for an increase for women of Id an hour, granted to male workers. I do cot know why the women were left out It is dreadful, and I do not know whether women in New Zealand will stand it." Mr. Justice Frazer: Well, I will relieve your anxiety. The women were not forgotten. We did not mention them because there was no definite scale |or women's wages as there was for iron's. We have got to accept the position that the average woman with whom we are dealing is" supporting only herself. We really cannot treat her as the head of the family, who has three children and a husband to support. Miss Cossey said there was a surprisingly large number of women who woiked to support children. The widow had to work for her living. His Honor: The widow who has children to support is certainly getting help from the Government. She receives a pension. Miss Cossey: Many a women does not receive help from her husband. His Honor; She could get maintenance from him, or divorce him and get. alimony. We cannot treat every girl in a factory as being a deserted wife or a wife supporting a family- On the contrary we must regard every man as supporting a wife and family. A single man must be locked upon as one trying to put hfe money aside for the purpose. Women workers have no", been forgottes, but their wages are so indefinite that we cannot lay down any standard. " I "think the present £2 2s (3d is a disgrace to the country," said Miss Cossey later, in reverting to the question of wages in factories. " 1 fee? that women's wages should have a really good bump up, because girls are m many cases, doing men's work and getting into men' 3 positions." Mr. W„ Scott, Employers' Assessor : Have you ever considered the wages paid to women in Australian factories? Mr. Scott said in many cases pirls were receiving only 39s <ki, while in Queensland 42s was the minimum. Miss Cossey: The cost of living is cheaper, perhaps. . . His Honor: On the whole I think it a dearer as far as food goes. Miss Cossey said the position in regard to rent was no easier in Auckland Girls found it absolutely impossible to live on the present rate of pay. "I do not know how I should manage in Australia, 1 think I would get out of the country," she concluded. His Honor: I «appose in Anst.ra.aa as la New Zealand a good worker is paid more than the minimum wage.