WOMAN VERSUS MAN.

Colonist, Volume LI, Issue 12497, 25 March 1909, Page 4

WOMAN VERSUS MAN.

At a SuriQay afternoon lecture on "Woman in Industry," given by Senator Trenwith in Wesley Church, Melbourne, the speaker dealt specially with the low wages paid to women compared with those earned by men. The law of humanity was that men and women should spend the greater, part of their lives in holy comradeship ' under the. marriage bond. (Hear, hear!) When, therefore, a young woman named Gertie felt that she would like to follow a nice, genteel occupation and wear the j latest Merry Widow hat — (laughter) — and have a peach blossom complex- j ion to go with a nice blouse — (re newed laughter) — she had to remember that when she went up the lift to an office for 15s or 20s a week, Bertie, who did the work before for 45s or 50s per week,- had to come_ down. (Laughter and. cheers.) The girl with the nice complexion and the Merry Widow hat supplanted the man with the high collar and the immaculate vest. (Laughter.) It was therefore J impossible that Bertie could propose j marriage to Gertie. 'Our customs and prejudices were against Gertie proposing to Bertie, and, even so, Bertie could not hope to do the housework, and wash out the feeding bottles and | do the washing on the share of 15s ! or 20s per week. (Laughter and applause.) Yet this was the condition of things which this class of employment was bringing about. . ===== '"". "V