New-York tribune., 1919-01-22
Women Are Assured
industrial Rights
BY British Premier
Lloyd George Declares No
Discrimination Will Be
Made Against Sex in the
Economic Readjustment

LONDON, Dee. 80 Correspondence
of The Associated Press).-No dis
elimination is to be made against
women iii British industry, Premier
Lloyd George declares in a letter ad-
the Women's Industrial League, who
had submitted to him a memorial set
ting forth The claims Of women to
freedom of employment.
After the pledges made by the gov
ornment to the trade unions have been
fulfilled, wrote Mr.. Lloyd George in his
reply, women will find ample scope in
peace pursuits. He supports the prin-
ciple Of equal pay for equal output"
and promises full opportunity for
women in training and education.
In those industrial occupations in
which women were engaged before the
war; the Premier added, "opportuni-
ties of every sort viii be opened up
TOR every class of woman worker, and
| believe that the real working rep
resentatives of organized labor NAV be
trusted when the time comes to see
the necessity of utilizing, in the in
terests of production and to the best
advantage, every class of worker avail
able"
Wages to be Kept Level
Regarding payment he says: "To
permit women to be the catspaw for
reducing the level of wages is unthink
aple: 1t is not desired by enlightened
employers. to whom good production
ana UNIFORM wages are desirable; cut
ting OF wages, with its CONSEQUENT in
y az.
their interest or in that Of the nation )"
Lady Rhondda urged in her memorial
that artlfclal restrictions on the en-
pioyment OF women IN industries
should be removed, nct only as a
measure of justice to the sex but in
the interests of national industrial Of.
hclency. She asserted that it was now
threatened to withdraw even the "im
perfect toleration" that was extended
70 70 women during the war and that in
the industries into which they were
invited with urgency they should now
1esume the condition of helots. Such
restrictions on their employment. She
declared, were artificial, unjust and dis
graceful to q civilized communitv
me 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
ouu Iha1 while the government was
pound by its agreement with trade
unions, there are many shops which
haa sprung up during the war in which
'hc governments bargain with trade
unions would not operate TO exclude
women from employment. Women. she
declared, are not seeing in industry =
renewal of strife, but a clear grant TO
them of their just rights as human be-
lngs and freedom of employment. They
recognize, she added, that their claim
comes after the claims of the sailors
and soldiers in the war
Limitations Are Admitted
"Women know that in some of the
occupations in which they have served
during the war they have been only
makeshift by reason of inferior
strength" Lady Rhondda admitted,
land in the long run women must be
excluded from such by the ordinary
rules Of economy. With these reserva-
tions, women claim unrestricted lib.
crty to be engaged in any industrial
employment. provided only that they
receive the same pay as men do for
particularly the provision Of women in
structors on work in which women have
proved more successful than men.
"They claim the same opportunities
us men for promotion, representation
on government committees and all pub
lie bodies and facilities of education IN
schools and universities that will en-
able them to qualify equally with men
In all suitable trades and professions"
"They claim the opportunity of being
dressed TO Lady Rhondda, president of
trained in the most efficient way and
equal output.