STRIKES PENALISE HOUSEWIVES

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 89, Issue 227, 25 September 1945, Page 5

STRIKES PENALISE HOUSEWIVES

INDICATIONS IN SYDNEY QUEUES INJURIOUS TO HEALTH Recd. 7.10 p.m. Sydney, Sept. 24. Some time ago Auckland housewives took things into their own hands, and isseud a summons against striking gas workers, on the ground that strikes were illegal. Strikes are also illegal in Australia, but that does not prevent them, and, in nearly every instance, the house wife suffers. No action has ever been taken by Australian housewives against strikers, though on occasions they must have felt entitled to do so. Coal strikes have resulted in less transport, with a consequent drop in household supplies, tiie stoppage at the Bunnerong powerhouse (now in its fourth week) causing light and newer failures, and the recurrent strikes of slaughtermen have meant a shortage of meat. There have been loud demands by housewives' associations, that food deliveries in the suburbs be resumed, because of the strain entailed in carrying home supplies. All through the war years home providers have had to carry their groceries, vegetables, meat and other foodstuffs. They have, also, in many instances, had to stand in queues at shops. Speaking in the House of Representatives last week, Sir Earle Page (who is a doctor) said it was the opinion of Sydney doctors that queueing up to buy food.V.qffs had impaired the health of many middle-aged women. He said: “The giving of a good coupon should be a guarantee of supplies. To-day in Sydney, at every suburban shop, though you have coupons you must stand in a queue. If you are not early you get no meat. This is not due to a shortage of meat; it is due to the Government’s lack of discipline of slaughtermen and coalminers.”

One Sydney doctor, supporting Sir Earle Page’s statements, added that war-time shopping hardships imposed on women had caused many chronic diseases. “Shopping-bag neuritis” has been caused by women over 45 carrying heavy loads from the shops and is becoming more prevelant every day,” said the doctor. “Miscarriages have increases during the past four years, and this can be traced to hardships endured by expectant mothers. Women who rush their housework to get an early place in a queue tend to put extra strain on their heart muscles, and this, in time, causes premature heart failure. Faced with the impertinence of shopkeepers, as well as other hardships, women are visiblj and mentally exhausted at night. An adequate goods delivery would eliminate much sickness,” concluded the doctor.

Periodic shortages of such basic commodities as milk and potatoes, is an added worry to the housewife. Milk is recurrently rationed because of drought conditions, and the reduction of herds, due to a farm manpower shortage. A report read at a meeting of the Primary Producers' Union last week said: “Sydney needs another million gallons of milk a week.” Potatoes disappear from the ’shops because of a shortage of shipping, and the strikes of wharf laoourers.

Finally, the housewife is troubled to budget for the household at the present high prices. Housewives laugh at the Government estimate that living costs have risen only 22 per cent, during the war. As regards the rise in the price of food they point to the fact that city meals have increased 88 per cent.