WHAT ABOUT MARRIAGE?

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1881, 15 October 1913, Page 8

WHAT ABOUT MARRIAGE?

JUDGE AND THE CLERKS. A minimum wage'of £4 a week for male and femalp clerks of 21 years of ago and over is being demanded in West Australia. ; Tho cost of living was much in evidence when this dispute was heard in the Arbitration Court, and displays of clothes and boots were made, demonstrating the essential expenses of clerks. Mr.-M'Gibbon (appearing for the employers) said the current rate for women was ■ two-thirds of tho amount of the men's wages. Women, though reliable, had not masculine initiative. They remained clerks only a few years; then they married. Therefore, it was not worth while training them. They could not bo sent out on missions, be brought into touch with many classes of customer, or bo brought back for night work. With respect to the cost of living, it was shown than sovon unnamed clerks receiving 605., spent 6s. a week on clothing, while 22 married clerks, averaging 905., spent only tho same amount on clothes. Mr. Justice Burnsidc said he did not' spqnd 15s. a week oii clothing. It was absurd for mere children —youths— to say they spent £40 to £50 a year on clothes. Clerks did not want four suits a year at five guineas for iever.vday work. It was no good spoon-feed-ing.them with packets of cigarettes and three nights weekly at music-halls. "Wo aro all born lazy," ho continued, "and you must make youngsters feel they have to work. Bank clerks ought to got £4 a week, hut often tlioy do not. What is to bo done with tho female typiste who, after five yoars' experience, is not worth tho full rate ?" Mr. Bryan (representing tho Clerks' Union): Sho should lie dismissed. Mr. Justico Burnsido: What with cigarettes and music shows, youngsters do not seem to attach much importance to getting married. He would not encourage them to marry till 20. A married man could not keep his head above wator on less than £4 a week.