UNEMPLOYMENT AMONG WOMEN

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21386, 14 July 1931, Page 8

UNEMPLOYMENT AMONG WOMEN

■ TO THE EDITOR. Sir —The following paragraph is taken from the discussion in Parliament on the wage tax:—“The Prime Minister told the House he recognised that the position regarding women was most difficult, but that no member could at the moment suggest any effective scheme for work.’" It is remarkable that anyone sent to represent us in Parliament, controlling the destinies of thousands of women, can utter such a statement. If the lives of women are to be left in such hands as these, then pity help them, and it behoves women to have their own representatives in the future. The feeble efforts that are being made locally for women will get us nowhere, and I am going to suggest to the Government and to the borbugh councils that with the moneys obtained from the wage tax they start such enterprises as municipal kitchens and laundries. These places

could be run and staffed by the unemployed women. Meals could be provided and served at the lowest possible charges to meet the stringent times, and as long as these places paid their overhead expenses and wages nothing else would be needed. Kitchens, with counter lunches, and -dining rooms and laundries opened in all the centres would employ hundreds of girls and women, who would be doing useful work, and would therefore justify the collection of money on their behalf. Charity is degrading, both to the giver and to the recipient. There are times when it has to be applied, but the present crisis is too serious for such methods. Some will take exception to municipal enterprises competing with private, but when private enterprise fails to cope with the times and supply work for the people it is then time for our local councils to step in and see the people provided for. Hoping this suggestion meets with approval and will be taken up so that a real effort can be made to help unemployed women.—l am, etc., Annie Kolles.