WOMEN'S NEEDS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23009, 9 April 1938, Page 16

WOMEN'S NEEDS

POWDER; AND LIPSTICK WORKERS' YEARLY BUDGET NINE PAIRS OF SILK STOCKINGS TOTAL EXPENDITURE OF £lB7 [by TELEGRAPH —OWN correspondent] WELLINGTON, Friday The claim that 10s worth of face cream, face powder costing 15s, and 4s worth of lipstick are definitely among the yearly needs of a woman worker without dependants to enable her to support herself "in accordance with a civilised standard of life," was made to tho Second Court of Arbitration today. Mr. Justice Hunter doubted the competency of the Court to judge, but added that it would do its best. The combined district clothing trade employees' dispute was before the Court, and tho advocate for the workers, Mr. j. Iloborts, of Christchurch, as part of his case submitted a table of the exponses of a woman worker without dependants, which it was claimed was to enable her to support herself "in accordance with a civilised standard of life." Mr. Roberts said careful inquiries had been made into the cost of living for such a worker, inquiries having been made from 20 women as to their yearly needs. £6B for Board The list set out that board and lodging, including lunches and laundry, with the exclusive use of a bedroom would, cost £1 5s weekly and £65 annually. Winter and summer clothing and hats were estimated to cost £35 2s 6d; footwear, £5 5s 6d for the year; stockiings (three pairs of the best silk, six pairs for ordinary wear and three pairs of tennis socks), £2 18s 6d; gloves, £1 12s sd; underwear, £5 8s; and miscellaneous articles, £8 9s od. Li|>stick, face powder and face cream were among the listed miscellaneous items, which also included an umbrella, 7s 6d; bathing costume, 15s; dressing gown, los; tooth paste, 10s; tooth brushes, 6s; hair attention, £2; renovations and cleaning, £l. Provision was also made for fares to work, £7 16s annually; fares other than to work, £5 4s; writing material and stamps, £2 12s; newspapers and journals, £2 12s; medical and dental services, £5 4s; union duos, 13s; recreation (cinema and sports), £l4 6s: church and charity, Is a week or £2 12s annually; annual holiday, £lO 8s; life insurance, £3 18s. Support of Parents

Other sundries were set down to cost £2, and it was suggested that the worker would be able to save 2s 6d weekly or £6 10s a year. The items listed totted up to £lB7 lis od for the year or £3 12s a week. Mr. Roberta pointed out that no allowance was made for an annual loss in wages, a minimum of one week's unpaid leave during the Christmas holidays, stocktaking, and absence due to sickness. He contended that an examination of tho facts would show that the vast majority of women workers in the clothing industry wero not entirely self-supporting, but in many instances had to support others, usually poor parents. Even if it were not so, the employers «were not entitled to expect the parents of the workers to pay wages for them, efficiency of these workers and the strain upon them through the speeding up and introduction of new machines and new methods of work had increased considerably. In view of_ this he confidently submitted a claim for £3 5s a week to the Court. Lipstick a Necessity

After looking at the list His Honor asked if lipstick was a necessity. Mr. Roberts: It is very necessary in these days. I don't think Mr. MacDonald will dispute that it is one of the necessities of the girls of to-day. Mr. D. E. Mac Donald (employers advocate): I don't know anything i\hont it. „ , .* 11 His Honor: You have allowed IS ( a week for the church collection. I m verv glad to see that. Mr. Y. Duff (employers' member): There is no cigarette money. Mr. Roberts: That is provided for in "sundries." His Honor questioned whether the Court was competent to decide whether certain of the articles of clothing mentioned were necessities or were merel,\ luxuries, but be added that the Court would do the best it could.