APPEAL MADE BY WOMEN

Taranaki Daily News, 15 April 1932, Page 6

APPEAL MADE BY WOMEN

RELIEF OF UNEMPLOYMENT

“GOING >0 GET WHAT WE ASK.*

WILL FIGHT BACK WITH THE MEN

CHANCE FOR SINGLE GIRLS ASKED.

By Telegraph.—Press Association.

April 14. The unemployed, women of Wellington, who have formed an organisation under the auspices of the Trades and Labour Council, to-day approached the Minister in charge of unemployment (the Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates) with a strong request to receive at least the samo°consideration as single men who pay the unemployment tax. There were about 150 in the deputation, which, was introduced by Mr. H. E. Holland. (Leader of the Opposition) and accompanied by Messrs, p. Fraser, R. Semple, R- McKeen and W. J. Jordan (Labour members of Parliament).

Miss O’Connor, speaking impassionedly, after assuring the Minister that employers were taking advantage of the situation to exploit women, said, that the deputation differed from any one which had previously approached* him; it was going to obtain what it asked. “This is not a threat,” she said. “We have discouraged our men who had thoughts of insurrection, but we are no longer going to do that; we are going to stand shoulder to shoulder with them. Wo will fight back with them, and when the women start to fight all 1 can say is God help you and all the other people on the benches of Parlia--ment.” >

Other speakers instanced cases in which girls were being made to suffer hardships. The Minister was asked to appeal to employers to give a chance to single women. Many married women, it was stated, held jobs while their husbands were in well-paid positions. Mr. Holland supported the request that the Unemployment Board should be abolished and the Minister take the direct responsibility. Mr. Coates said that the board would provide for all those in distress as a result of unemployment, leaving the hospital boards to look after the normal cases. ,

A questioner: Will you pay sustenance ?

Mr. Coates: That is another story. It will depend on the recommendations that are made by the central committees. He promised to look into the points raised by the deputation.