WOMEN AND BUSINESS.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 307, 28 December 1929, Page 10

WOMEN AND BUSINESS.

SUCCESS IN AUSTRALIA. | A great admirer of her own sex, Mrs. M. Jackson, secretary of the Business and Finance Trust Company, Sydney, has nothing but praise for the business capabilities of the \ Australian woman, eay the "Christchurch Press." Mrs. Jackson is a New Zealander, and is at present visiting her people in Christchurch and Akaroa. To a "Press" reporter she stated that there was a tremendous number of women in business in Sydney, and their staying powers and capabilities were marvellous. There are many reasons that induce a woman to embark on a business career. "Very often there is a husband cut of work, or there are not sufficient means to support the family. Perhaps more money is wanted for dress. That, however, is not always the case, for there are many society girls in business, and indeed there are very few society girls in Sydney, Mrs. Jackson says, who are idle. More particularly in the past year' she has noticed the increase in the number of girls who are entering the realms of commerce. "It seems that the Australian girl's ambition is to be able to do something for herself," Mrs. Jackson added. She lias a good education, is very determined, and is a very line class of woman. "I have known girls not brought up to anything make a great success in business. There are also a great many mothers and daughters in business together, while a husband and wife have struck up a flourishing legal practice. Indeed, it is tlie wife who lias worked up the practice to the prosperous concern it is to-day." Mrs. Jackson has found that women are always ready to turn round and help one another. A great many in business have had some tragedy in their lives and have had to turn to and make the most of things. Consequently there is a wonderful fellowship and sympathy among the business sisterhood. They will do almost anything to help another in trouble. "I don't think the New Zealand girl is adapted to the same life," Mrs. Jackeon said. "The Australian girl is brought up from childhood to fight for herself, and that has helped her a great deal. The New Zealand girl has lived a more sheltered life and looks for something easy. She is a very nice girl, and is good at teaching and nursing, but I don't think she has been put to the test. "It is a mistake to think that if a girl goes into business," Mrs. Jackson continued, "and has to fight her way she doesn't make a good wife or mother. Indeed, she is better equipped for home life and she appreciates it more. Of course, there are certain girls of the 'flapper' class who are very flighty and would never settle. There are wonderful openings for women in Australia — positions they would never get in New Zealand. That is not to say, however, that every girl is suited to the work that is offering, and consequently a certain amount of unemployment is inevitable. There is a greater proportion of unemployment among men than there is among women." Speaking of business in general, Mrs. Jackson said that there was a period cf depression in Sydney just now, and a lot of companies had closed down. Business was very slack and money was tight. It was always the middle class man they had to depend upon. The moneyed man did not count for much, because he did not spend in.the same proportion. She had found, too, that the middle class man was the "nicest to deal with." Self-made and wealthy men were generally selfish. The Australian country man was really charming, although she did not care much for the city man. Capacity for business, tremendous determination, self-confidence and great self-respect, with a modicum of brains thrown in, in Mrs. Jackson's opinion, are the characteristics of the Australian girl which make her so suitable for business.