SEXES IN INDUSTRY.

Taranaki Daily News, 13 September 1922, Page 5

SEXES IN INDUSTRY.

THE PROBLEM OF WAGES. WHY MEN REQUIRE MORE. AN ENDOWMENT SCHEME. By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright. Received Sept. 12, 5.5 p.m. London, Sept. 11. Professor Edgeworth,, president of the economic section of the British Association, discussing equal pay for the sexes, said that if all restriction and competition between the sexes were removed the average weekly earnings of men would be considerably higher. He doubted the truth of the contention that two-thirds of the women wageearners maintained others. Mr. Seebohm Rowntree’s recent investigation proved that only 12 per cent, of the women supported others. Most men supported families, and therefore it was not unreasonable that they should have the advantage. When one party was subject to unequal deductions, equal pay for equal work no longer appeared to be equitable. Doubtless there had been much exaggeration of the evidence that when wives earned their husbands idled- A woman inspector had remarked: “I almost agree with the social worker who said that if a husband were out of work the wife should sit down and cry, because if she did anything else the husband would remain unemployed.” A simple plan for the endowment of children would be -for a union to contribute to a fund to be distributed among wives in accordance with the size of families. Bachelors and childless husbands should he persuaded to support the fund, from, which they might hope one day to benefit as fathers. The contribution night be based on actual earnings rather than the legal minimum wage.' —Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.