WOMEN WORKEBS

Press, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 23802, 23 November 1942, Page 4

WOMEN WORKEBS

POST-WAR PROBLEM EFFECT OF HIGH WAGES (0.C.) SYDNEY, Nov. 13, Attention to a post-war problem resulting i from the high wages now being paid to women workers in essential industries was drawn by Mrs L Beeston, supervisor of female labour in a heavy industry, in an address to a New South Wales business ud professional women’s club. j Mrs Beeston said that after eapiiig high wages and enjoying complete financial freedom, many womeniwiH be unable to manage on £2 .a|weelt Widows who had struggled.?SMmjl a pension of £1 5s a week wia ft earning four times that amou«Sfyo| ried women were earning $s nSafw their husbands in civiliaft joss, and far more than husbands in the Amy Many of these women, said Mil Beeston, had more money than ever before, and did not know how to spend it. Some were not buying bonds or savings certificates. “If there is darkness in some industries after the war, will they know how to pinch and scrape, if they are thrown back on £1 ss?” she asked. “They will have become contented in industry, and will not be able to manage unless they receive guidance from people competent to help them.” Young girls, for whom munitionmaking had been their first employment, she added, had become wed disciplined, and would have a good chance of making a fresh start u someone gave them new channels in which to direct their energies. Housewives would need outside interests, not necessarily a career; to absorb the power for work they had developed while in industry. Mrs Beeston said that, in .selectiw women for industry to-day, the lira to be called were those between 21 and 35, who were single, divorced,, separated from their husbands,oo r had husbands in the forces. Hw* under 21 and similarly situated were: considered next. Mothers with young children came last on the list. They, had to satisfy welfare officers tbit their children were being properlooked after before jobs were allotted to them.