RELIEF WORKERS

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXIX, Issue 20057, 14 March 1935, Page 5

RELIEF WORKERS

PLIGHT OF WIVES AND CHILDREN

CASE PRESENTED By Telegraph-Press Association WELLINGTON, March 13. Members of Parliament this morning were invited by a number of Labour members to meet a deputation of ladies, who desired to put before them the case of the relief worker’s wife and children on the lines that were put before ii-e Minister of Employment last week. As the Government party caucus was being held to consider rhe Rural Mortgagors Bill, Labour members and the Independents were practically the only members present. Some 200 women and a number cf children were present. The chair was taken by Sir Charles Statham, and ihe proceedings were perfectly orderly throughout. Speakers were given a good hearing. Mrs A. Henderson, the first speaker, said the women present were the wives of relief workers, who hart known what it was actually to want. In many cases they had known actual starvation. They had seen their husbands go to work in the morning without breakfast, their children crying for oread. She appealed to members when they went back to the floor of the House to demand that th abject poverty that existed should be done away with. Women had endeavoured to secure an interview with the Prime Minister and the Minister of Finance, but they had been denied that. She proceeded to outline the cases given t.o the Minister of Employment last week. In 1930, she added, the Government said a man with a wife and one child could not live on less than 42/6 a week. Yet today they were expected to live on half that amount. The Unemployment Board had a reserve of £1,500,000. (Cries, shame!), while women an 1 ch.ldren were going hungry. The women demanded that their husbands should be paid award wages. If work was not available they should receive an amount of sustenance that would enable them to live decently, and feed and clothe their children properly. She also contended that a relief worker’s wife should be allowed to earn money to supplement her husband’s earnings. She said the wife of a man who was in permanent work was allowed to have permanent work also. Why should the relief worker’s wife not be allowed to do the same? Members should demand that the Government should shoulder its responsibilities, and shoulder them fully.

Appeal for Youth Mrs Cook said women were present representing women from all over New Zealand. She made an appeal ior better treatment for boys and girls between 15 and 20 who were unable to supplement the family income, yet had to be kept. She said mothers saw thenboys going down hill, adopting slovenly ways and getting into bad company, as they had nothing to occupy their time. She said if members did not know that srch conditions existed, they should go to places where they could see them for themselves. Mrs O. Vaughan also spoke of the existing conditions. She said not so long ago Mr Coates said theie were no people starving in New Zealand. That, she said, was a deliberate he. The Government and the Unemployment Board were depriving women and children of their proper food, and it was the duty of Members of Parliament to see that the rising generation received plenty of food and clothing. The winter was coming on and it was going to be a hard, bitter winter for many of them. There was no bright side to the relief worker’s wife’s life. It was just one continual miserable existence from day to day. Mothers had reached the stage when they would no longe'r sit back and see their children going unclothed and hungry. They had eeme to demand that at least their husbands were given work not charity. They wanted work, but they wanted it at award rates. Mr M. J. Savage moved a v >te of thanks to the speakers. He regretted that members of the Government were not present, but they were attending an important caucus. It was a pity the deputation was speaking only to their friends, but there was no harm in doing that. The motion was seconded by Mr H. Atmore, M.P., who urged that the three speakers of that morning should be allowed to state their case to the country by broadcasting. The motion was carried and the deputation withdrew. WELLINGTON, March 12. A decision to form an Unemployment Research Association to conduct an investigation into the causes of, and the

remedy for, the unemployment situation was made at a public meeting tonight. The hall was filled to capacity by an audience made up about equally of unemployed and citizens in work. The chairman was Mr J. H. Howell. Resolutions were carried. “That a general increase of 10s a week be granted all men on unemployment relief or sustenance; that free milk be supplied for all families of relief work-

ers in quantities regarded as adequate by medical authorities.” A motion by Professor W. H. Gould expressing the desirability of a comprehensive and public investigation of the unemployed problem, with the purpose of making known throughout the Dominion facts regarding unemployment, and the setting up of a research association, was carried. A further motion moved by the Rev. T. Fielden Taylor and seconded by Mr W. Nash, M.P., also was carried. This urged on all sections of Parliament the forming of a comprehensive plan to place relief workers on a sound economic footing. The chairman intimated that he had received a communication from Archbishop O’Shea associating himself with the objects of the meeting.