A CHARWOMAN'S CRY.

NZ Truth, Issue 130, 14 December 1907, Page 4

A CHARWOMAN'S CRY.

All true citizens deplore the calamity which has bereft us of our Parliament House, .thoupjh there are many who reckon it a visit of judgment on the country for possessing politicians who are swayed by a Puritanic zeal, and who have given us such a legislative abortion ag The Gaming and Lotteries Act. "Truth" intended to make some remarks on the Parliament House m connection with the treatment of a number of charwomen employed there, but the said national calamity must some" what numb our efforts. Nevertheless, and notwithstanding the dire devastation of our Legislative Halls, some one, and, unfortunately, a female, a Mrs Noon, has to be pilloried over the treatment of these women, who, so far as charring at Parliament House are concerned, are like so many Othellos—their occupations are gone. Strange, too, isn't it, that even m the daily troubles and squabbles of the charwomen, ike disturbing element of religion should enter. These females, or a lot of ♦vhem, are bullied and bounced and sweated ,and treated like so many slaves. They never murmur, for fear they should get the sack, and isn't it strange that such sweating should £o on, even m Parliament; They scrub and rub every morning that the House is m session for four bob a daT and Sunday is not even barred. Some of them are denied the small luxury of an early morning cup of tea. The forewoman has herffavorr r Stes, and they never lack anything m the shape of cuds of tea, or a. rest from arduous labor. In fact, so evident is the favoritism that Mrs Noon '.s called a cat k and a tyrant and a lampoon has been written on her by one of the slaves, who thought . it •nieht be of avail to interview Sir Joseph and place their troubles before him. On second thoughts they deterred, and argued it thus. Mrs NToon is a Roman Catholic, and so is' Sir Joseph, and from that fact "Truth" presumes it must deduce this, that the non-Ronvans wouldn't get anything m the ' shape of justice , were the Prime Minister's . sympathies sought. Religion is surely responsible for some fantastic and high old tricks but none ever' dreamed it would cause such • a fluttering m charring circles. It•night be some time ere Parliament *.s charted a^in, and, relierfon or \o religion, Mrs Forewoman had better bend a little and be more charitable and just, arid be more humane to fellow women workers. :