WORKLESS WOMEN

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 749, 23 August 1929, Page 8

WORKLESS WOMEN

Sir, — I am surprised to learn that anyone who has lived in Auckland during the past three years should be ‘-amazed” over my statement that manv women a ? d jT 1, : Is are unemployed. This state of affairs is the natural result of immigration, bad management, and lack of encouragement for local industries, and should be apparent to even the

most unobservant. Ido not propose to deal with these matters at length here, but I wish to disabuse your correspondent’s mind of the idea that I am one who points out an evil without being able to suggest a cure, fcuch is not the policy of the party to which I belong. As to her suggestion that the Auckland women’s branch should open a labour bureau, I would point out that we are a busy band of women, and have not the time to undertake the duties of voluntary unofficial public servants, though I feel certain that we are capable of organising and running such an institution, so as to benefit those who find the present Government bureau useless and objectionable. "We know that employers would not patronise a bureau run by members of the Labour .Party, and while the present depresslJ?n , contlnu fs there are few positions offering. W e look to the Government, vv hich undertook to provide a panacea, for a move to relieve unemployment of both men and women. As to the Minister s advocacy of domestic ser\ice for all out-of-work women and firls, regardless of training, fitness or inclination, and his expressed surprise at its being so unpopular, I hold the opinion that under its present conditions it must remain the least soughtafter avenue of employment. For the information of “Amazed” and others I may mention that the list of authentic names of the unemployed women and girls which was compiled over three years ago by the committee of Dabour women (during one week) is still in the possession of the officials at the Government Labour Bureau M. B. SOLJAk!