UNEMPLOYED WOMEN.

Southland Times, Issue 22157, 27 October 1933, Page 3

UNEMPLOYED WOMEN.

To the Editor. Sir, —In the leading article “Unemployed Women,” the Advisory Board are credited with co-ordinating the work of the committees, of making known to them schemes worked successfully in other centres. Such is not the case. When the Advisory Board some months ago, visited Invercargill, they found a local committee in existence doing exactly the work they are now doing, their activities only restricted by the amounts granted from the Unemployment Fund. The local committee has so far forwarded biyearly reports to headquarters of its activities, in which every penny expended was accounted for and as the overhead expenses, including stamps, stationery, cartage of goods, etc. only amounted to £2 4/-, the public will realize that no unnecessary expenses were incurred. Reference was also made in this article to an unexpended balance. This relates to £2O received a few days ago when the committee had almost decided to close down for want of funds. Had it not been for the generosity of H. & J. Smith, Herbert, Haynes, and others, the committee would have been unable to carry on. Sales of garments made by the unemployed women and girls realized close on £lOO and this also helped to provide employment. As regards knowledge of what is being done in other centres, no information has been received here, unless from information published in the Press. The criticism so far levelled has not been at the Women’s Advisory Board, but at the Unemployment Board for what we consider an unnecessary expenditure of unemployment money. Surely two visits of an Advisory Board within a few months is hardly necessary, when at the first visit a member of the Advisory Board distinctly stated that the Invercargill local committe was working on entirely right lines.—We are, etc., G. E. DENHAM, J. M. HANAN, Joint-Secretaries. C. McLEOD, A. HENDERSON, H. L. BIRSS, for members of the Women’s Committee.