WAYWARD GIRLS

Press, Volume LXXX, Issue 24152, 11 January 1944, Page 6

WAYWARD GIRLS

DIRECTION TO USEFUL WAR WORK

SYDNEY, December 24,

In its search for labour the New South Wales Manpower Department has been sending officers to the Sydney police courts. The officers have interviewed hundreds of girls convicted of soliciting, vagrancy, and other offences and directed them to essential work.

During November 65 of these girls were sent to country factories or engaged in primary production. The Deputy-Director of Manpower, Mr C. J. Bellemore, said it,was known many of the girls had won back self-respect and were again decent members of the community. More and more women are being directed into industries. Every month between 12,000 and 15,000 women are placed in jobs by manpower authorities. In the majority of cases they have been transferred from low to high priority work, but in November 1426 women were employed for the first time.

Additional women’s labour is urgently required at present to handle hundreds of tons of fruit for canning. If sufficient do not volunteer for the work, Mr Bellemore states he will use his powers to direct women to the canneries.