LOW WAGES

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 283, 25 July 1932, Page 7

LOW WAGES

DOMESTIC SERYANTS POORLY PAID IN NEW / .ZEALAND. ,/ OVERSEAS RATES HIGHIER. The differenee between New Zealand and other eountries, so far as the j wages paid to domestic help were concerned, was referred to by Mr. R. A. Brooks at a recent meeting of the Christchurch Women's Unemployment Committee. The comparison was anything but favourable to New Zealand, and led to some discussion on the part of the committee. Mr. Brooks read three advertisements for help from three newspapers. The first was from a Timaru paper: "Wanted, woman or girl, to help in country farmer's liome. Wages 5/s per week." The London Daiiy Mail: "Exp'erienced cook wanted for eomfortable home. Four in family. all duties shared with daily maid. Wages 25/week; good outings. Buses pass the door to all parts." A third, the mos ' surprising of all, was a cutting f ,mi a Queensland newspaper; — "A female aboriginal in Queensland, under the Aboriginals Protection Act must be paid not less than 30/- a week, with food and shelt-er." A member asked just what wages were paid to the girls of Christchurch sent out into the country. "Our minimum wage is 10/-," said the secretary, Miss B. Lovell-Smith.

ilf the employer is not able to pay that we subsidise the amount." In reply to an inquiry she stated that she was often asked to supply help where no wages at all were offered. Of course, sueh applications were refused. Her remarlcs were corroborated by Mrs. A. I. Fraer. "I have been asked, not once, but many times, for girls to do housework and help in the home, but no wages are offered for sueh services. The girls in some cases would be expected to do everything to work really hard,, and receive nothing for her labour." Mr. J. Roberts said he had gathered from a conversation he had had last week with Mr. P. R. Climie that very soon the girls would be asked by the Unemployment Board to work i for nothing. It was a fault of the Women's Advisory Committtee. In Otago girls were working for 2/6 a week, and the board was following the advice of members of the Women's Advisory Committee, and trying to reduce the whole scheme of domestic serviee to the southern level. Miss M. G. Havelaar considered that a girl, working for no wages at all, at least received food and shelter, and was a great deal better off than she was trying to manage hy herself in a room in town. Her experience also led her to believe that in Canterbury, in some cases, good wages were still being offered. "Exceptional cases," said Mr. Roberts. He added that it was only the firm stand taken by the Christchurch committee that had led to a eertain standard being maintained in the provinee. The discussion then lapsed.

fioral georgette and velvet bridge coat), R. Bonner (green taffeta), L. Ferguson (brown lace), Z. Sutherland (fioral taffeta), P. Holloway (fioral ninon), J. Todd (black ninon over pink satin), P. Todd (brown satin beaute and orange bridge coat), A. Tabb (black taffeta), D. Payne (pink satin) C. Payne (blue satin), Watson (blue fioral taffeta), N. Hollard (black taffeta), Roberts (blue georgette), L. Hartshorne (green fioral taffeta), Thompson (cream lace with georgette and coatee to match), F. Shalfoon (green fioral ninon), Phillips (apricot georgette), A. Dodgson (apricot embroidered organdie), A. Burnett (red velvet), K. Mulhern (blue satin), A. Roach (Te Aroha), (green fioral ninon), E. Dodgson (green fioral georgette), E. Mulhern (cream satin and black velvet bridge coat), M. Parkinson (green taffeta), E. Hollard (pink taffeta), L. Butterworth (blue satin), N. Neilson (green georgette), E. Murray (green crepe de chine), L. Burnett (green georgette with' coatee to tone), B. Kelly (black velvet with figured bridge coat), IC. Kelly (black crepe de chine).