DISTRESS AMONG GIRLS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21578, 25 February 1932, Page 12

DISTRESS AMONG GIRLS

TO THE EDITOR. Sir, —During last winter the Young Women’s Christian Association offered all its equipment to the Mayoress’s Unemployment Committee for the purpose of helping with unemployed girls. This offer was gladly accepted, and classes were held daily, while an office w-as given up for the purpose of a registry bureau. To save confusion and to assist this committee, the Y.W.C.A. handed over its usual registry work to this group, which dealt with the matter in its building until the end of November. At this time the committee decided to close the classes and also to discontinue the registry bureau for the summer months, but it was on the understanding that the Y.W.C.A. reopened its own bureau and attended to 1 needful cases of distress. Since December 1 this employment bureau has been carried on in the usual way by the Y.W.C.A. in Moray place, and any unemployed woman or girl has been able to register. This fact was published in the daily papers by the Prime Minister himself early in December, has been frequently mentioned through the press, and has been noted by the Mayoress’s Unemployment Committee and all social workers. It has also been made known to groups of girls in workrooms, factories, etc., and the general secretary was permitted to speak at the women’s unemployed workers’ movement and to invite those interested to send their daughters or any other women out of work to the Y.W.C.A. bureau to register and to receive assistance if necessary. No charge has been made either to register or when securing positions.

During those last two months and ahalf about 100 girls have been placed, and any girl or woman in distress or want of any nature who has come under the Y.W.C.A. notice or under the notice of any social worker or committee throughout Dunedin has received assistance after the necessary investigations have been carried out. Apart from positions secured, meals and board have been provided when necessary, more suitable rooms have been found, and fair wages have been asked of all employers. There is no need or reason for any girl or woman to feel that sympathetic interest and help are lacking while there is a Young Women’s Christian Association whose sole purpose for existence is to bo of practical help to nil women and girls.—We are, etc.. Young Women’s Christian Association Board of Directors. Dunedin, February 22.