MARRIED FOR RELIEF.

Franklin Times, Volume 9, Issue 753, 4 August 1922, Page 2

MARRIED FOR RELIEF.

SINGLE GIRLS AND THEIR WAGES. That l girl was. forced to look to the marriage market for relief was the Statement made by Mr Cooke in the Arbitration Court, ’Christchurch, when engaged in an industrial dispute involving the wages and conditions of dressmakers. He stated that a wage of £2 a week was not enough on which to live in the case of a girl who had no home of her own. “ Flow does, she get on when she has to share £4 with a. man ?” asked Mr F. Cooper, the employers' representative. “ Well, she has some tight pulling then,” answered Mr Cooke. His Honor Mr Justice Fraser stated that, although £2 a week might not appear a high wage, it was higher than what Was regarded as a fair wage for women workers in South Australia, the figure there being 34s or 355. Mr Cooke, admitting such to be the case, said that the wealth production of New Zealand was superior to that of South Australia. His Honor stated that most of the wealth of New Zealand came from the primary industries, which were pretty hard hit at present. Mr Cooke : We are entering into economics now. His Honor: I take it that we all think New Zealand is a better country to live in just now than Australia. Still, there is no getting away from the fact that the times have not been too good of late.