The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1919-01-15
(By Associated Press.)

'ion Is 10 De made against women in,
british industry, Premier Lloyd
George declares in letter addressed
10 Lady Rhonlda, president Of the.
women's Industrial League, who hadr
submitted to him a memorial settings
forth the claims Of women to freedom
OF employment. /
After the pledges made by the gov.
eminent to the trade unions have been
rulhlled, wrote Mr.. Lloyd George IN,
his reply, women will find ample.
scope in peace pursuits. He supports
Inc principle Of equal pay for equa,,
output" and promises full opportunity
lor women in training and education :.
In those industrial occupations i'm
which women were engaged before the
war;" the Premier added, "opportunih.
ties OF every sort will be opened uEe
for every class Of women worker, and'
l believe that the real working repre-
sentatives Of organized labor may be
trusted when the time comes to see
the necessity Of utilizing. in the inter-
ests of production and to the best ad-
vantage, every class of worker avail
able."
Regarding payment, he says. ITO
permit women to be the catspaw for
reducing the level of wages is un-
thinkable. 1t is not desired by en-
lightened employers. to whom good
production and uniform wages are de-
sirable; cutting of wages, with its
consequent instability, is not at any
time either in their interest or in that
of the nation"
Lady Rhondda urged in her memoir
ial that artificial restrictions on the
employment of women In industries
should be removed, not only as a |
measure of justice to the sex, but In
the interests Of national industrial
efficiency. She asserted that It was
now threatened to withdraw even the
imperfect liberation" that was ex-
tended to women during the war and
that in the industries to which they |
were invited with urgency they should
now resume the condition Of helots.
Such restrictions on their employ
ment, she declared were artificial, un-
just and disgraceful to a civilized
community.
The present conditions Of women's
employment, Lady Rhondda asserted
prevent them from being utilized in
the national interest. Women were not
consulted in the arrangements for the
reconstruction of industry. She
pointed out that while the govern
ment was bound by its agreement
with trade unions, there are many !
shops which had sprung up during
the war in which the governments |
bargain with trade unions would not
operate to exclude women from en-
ployment. Women, she declared are
not seeking in industry a renewal OF
strife but a clear grant to them of
their just rights as human beings and
freedom of employment. They recog-
nize, she added. that their claim comes
after the claims of the sailors and SOL
diers In the war.
"Women know that In some Of the
OCCUPATIONS In which they have
served during the war they have been
only a makeshift by reason Of infer
ior strength" Lady Rhondda admitted,
land in the long run women must be
excluded from such by the ordinary
rules Of economy. With these reser-
yations, women claim unrestricted
liberty to be engaged in any indus
trial employment, provided only that
they receive the same pay as men DO
for equal output. They claim the OPP
portunity Of being trained in the most
efficient way and particularly the pro-
vision of women instructors on work
IN which women have proved more
successful than men, They claim
the same opportunities as men for
promotion, representation on govern
ment committees and all public bodies
and facilities of education In schools
and universities that will enable them
to qualify equally with men in all
suitable trades and professions.