Our Boys and Girls.

Wairarapa Standard, Volume XIX, Issue 1848, 23 June 1886, Page 2

Our Boys and Girls.

When the employment of Females and Others Bill was being disouseed in the House, Mr Eerr asked " What are we to do with our boys ? " We can remember that in the Victorian Parliament twenty five years ago the same question was asked by an Hon. member, and, quick as thought, big, burly, geaiaj John O'Shannassy, who was then Premier, replied, " Why marry them to the girls." In this colony of New Zealand at the present day, there is not much difficulty in finding suitable work for our boys. They can be taught one or other of many trades or be sent to learn country work on farm or statioo, instead of Btriving to get clerkships or become holders of small billets in the Civil Service. The boys will get on right enough if they are honest, industrious and steady. But the girls—alas—their lot is a sad one. All girls in this colony are wretchedly underpaid for their work. In the clothing factories, printing offices, bookbinding establishments, boot factories, and dress making work rooms at Wellington, the girls for the most part are not paid sufficient wages to keep body and soul together. Send a boy to learn a trade, and in four or five years he is able to earn £3 a week. Send a girl to work at any of the places mentioned and in the same period of time she will not be getting more than 12s to 17s a week. The way iu which girls in this colony are ground down with respect to wages at all these occupations is a scandalous dis grace to the niggardly and mean-minded set of employers who defraud them of a fair