WOMEN IN WAR INDUSTRY

Press, Volume LXXIX, Issue 23845, 14 January 1943, Page 2

WOMEN IN WAR INDUSTRY

Creche Proposed For Workers

“MARRIED WOMEN BEST IN WAR JOBS”

The establishment of a creche for babies and children under school age, supervised by a trained nurse, is under consideration by H. C. YJrlwin, Ltd., at the suggestion of the Christchurch Housewives’ Association. . Mr H. C. Urlwin said yesterday that investigations were being made by his firm to see if a creche wou!4 be of any help in increasing the ranks of young married women war workers. "The best women workers are the voung married women who have bad some previous experience of industry, said Mr Urlwin. “I feel that there are many women of this type who would offer their services for war work if their children could be efficiently cared for. My firm is prepared to start a creche, as it is felt that the more women in industry the better the New Zealand war effort. Where women have replaced youths they have been proved often more efficient than the boys, and seem prepared to stay at their set ,iobs. The work of intricate assembly is also excellently done by women." . . , . , Mr Urlwin’s opinion of married women as war workers is shared by employers who have replaced men and boys with women in all kinds of factone's and munition works.

Efficient Work

A spokesman from a big foundry said yesterday that in some respects women are better than men at some of the jobs that in peace time have been done entirely by men. The women, most of whom are over 21, ana many of whom are married, are doing just as well as the youths previously employed. ... , “We have women working drills ana milling machines, and doing moulding jobs in connexion with munitions, said Mr G. A. Skelton, of another foundry. All the extensions to staff nave been made with ■'women, who have proved most efficient and can do the jobs without a great deal of tuition. “The majority are making cores lor cast-iron moulds. “This is a particularly suitable job for women.” said Mr Skelton. “They mh'hl well be in the kitchen at home making a batch of scones, except that instead of nice, clean flour they use dark sand and oil. The cores are P ar t of the production of hand grenades. The married women employed are largely those who have sought jobs as munitions workers while their husbands are fighting.”

Operating Hydraulic Presses Mr J. G. Power, factory manager of the Latex Rubber Company, said that women were operating hydraulic steam presses as important war jobs. These jobs were never before given to women.” he said, “and though they are pretty strenuous the women workers are standing up well to the heavy work. Often they pick up the work' more quickly than the men,” said Mr Power, "and are doing well in all sections of the rubber industries in which they were employed.” He agreed also that married women made the best workers. Speaking for the clothing manufacturors, Mr A. M. Hollander said that women have always exceeded men in numbers in the clothing industry, but that women are now doing men s jobs as cutting assistants. . Information from the Chief Post Office in Christchurch shows that 300 women and girls are doing war jobs in the P. and T. Department. They arc doing excellent work in replacing men in practically all departments, including telegraph, mail roonjs. bank and money order sections. More than 60 women are employed delivering mail in Christchurch. (