UNEMPLOYED WOMEN.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20968, 3 September 1931, Page 11

UNEMPLOYED WOMEN.

AN OFFICIAL COMMITTEE.

AUCKLAND ORGANISATION

* APPLICATION FOR GRANT.

A decision to assume the functions of an official women's unemployment committee for Auckland ' under the Unemployment Board was made by the Un employed Women's Emergency Committee at a meeting at the Town Hall Miss E. Melville presiding. This action was taken at the request of the Minister of Labour, the Hon. S. G- Smith, to whom the committee had applied, through the Mayor of Auckland, for monetary aid., The Minister bad tentatively promised an initial grant of £IOO if the committee formally agreed to ac cept an official status. It was decided ) to notify the Unemployment Board and to apply for the grant forthwith. The following resolution was adopted:— "That the Unemployment Board be urged to obtain, as early as possible, a report on unemployment among women, from the committee set up under the Act, and that early advice be sought regarding the intentions of the board in connection with the unemployment of women, particularly as to what was the extent of the financial assistance which would be available to enable a, proposed work centre to be opened in Auckland."

It was decided to inform the authorities that the committee wished to retain the right to apply all funds received by it, other than Government grants, at its own discretion for the relief of distress among unemployed women.

Miss Melville stated that the committee's employment registry had been finding an average of 23 positions weekly for women and girls. There were 785 names on the register, including 426 domestics, 239 shop and factory workers, 65 office workers, 11 professional women, and 44 without experience.

To enable the committee to prepare the required official returns, it, was decided to ask the Women Teachers' and Trained Nurses' Associations and the Tailoresses', Shop Assistants' and Hotel and Restaurant Employees' Unions to supply information regarding unemployed members who had not registered with the committee. A donation of £27 to the Mayor's fund for unemployed women by the St. Heliers branch of the Tamaki Women's Progressive League was acknowledged.