WOMEN AND SHOPPING

Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 69, 18 September 1930, Page 13

WOMEN AND SHOPPING

INTERESTING MEETINGS

The interest in tho question of New Zealand women supporting the industries of their own country is growing owing to the excellent way in which the matter has been placed before the public by Miss Melville.

There was a good gathering at tho I Trades Hall yesterday afternoon, when Mrs. Somple presided. Miss Melville spoke of the length of time New Zealand women had had the vote. Eights and privileges' brought responsibilities, and she said that in tho direction of taking care of the girl, workers of the Dominion the women had failed lamentably in that they, had taken no hoed of their trade conditions, nor of tho fact that there was no official register of the girls and women. who were among the unemployed. The women should not only know about these matters, but they should take early opportunity of finding out how they could adequately assist them. One way suggested by the speaker was that the women should increase the trade of the Dominion by more patriotic buyings. She gave some figures showing what great sums of money went to foreign countries, outside tlie Empire,■_ as well as outside the Dominion, keeping the people employed in these places to the-.-neglect'of their own. Sho asked for an intelligent public opinion from, women, and for their co-operation in forwarding the" welfare of their own country. Several questions were asked, and some fault found with the system of tli© fixation of prices. The fact was .mentioned that many of the Now Zealand productions' were more highly priceel than those that .had paid transport and duty when brought from other countries. Miss Melville said that probably the reason was that the wages wero higher in the Dominion than in other parts of the world, remarking that she was sure that .none present wished to reduce wages or lower the standard of living. She referred to.the fact that the labour in South Africa was coloured, and'not well paid, with a lower standard of living than that ■of New Zealand, while in ' Czechoslovakia the men workers were paid at the rate of 10s per week —not per day—and she left her hearers to imagine liow much the girls and women were paid. The meeting was an interesting one, as bringing out the opinions of a number, of women who had given tho matter serious thought and were practical people...-:.- • • The evening meeting was held at the Wellington Lyeouin < Club, when there was a good attendance considering the bad weather. Mrs.J.J. Clark (president) presided, and introduced the speaker. Miss Melville spoko on tho same linos as the other meetings, and received a cordial vote of thanks, questions again being asked. Later a resolution was .passed unanimously urging that all New Zealand goods should be plainly marked, and should bo easily obtainable by purchasers.