WOMEN CONDUCTORS

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIII, Issue 134, 9 June 1942, Page 6

WOMEN CONDUCTORS

ACTION* IN WELLINGTON (0.C.) WELLINGTON, this day. When an inquiry was made as to whether Wellington was going to employ women to fill the gaps in the ranks of the men conductors, the general manager of the Wellington Tramways service, Mr. L. B. Hutton, said that the department had been considering the matter for some months, and out of the many applications received between 30 and 40 had been selected to commence training about the middle of the week. The task of selection might not be easy. To see the smiling tramways conductor collecting fares on a bright, sunny day in summer time was one thing; but to see that same conductor slogging home through the wind and rain after finishing duty on the midnight shift in the depth of winter was another proposition. Yet that was what had to be faced. Some women could stand up to it, he had no doubt, but there would be others who might not be able to face the rigours of the weather at all times of the day and night. The training would begin with lectures next week, which would fully explain what was expected of tram conductors under all possible circumstances.

EMPLOYMENT APPROVED

(P.A.) DUNEDIN, this day. The employment of women conductors on the city tramways was approved by the City Council at a meeting last night. The decision was made when the council adopted a report by the transport committee, stating that a sufficient number of male applicants was not offering, and suggesting that the employment of women was the solution to the department's problem.