CONSCIENTIOUS SCRUPLES.
TELEPHONE MARTYR. ,'tV , TELEPHONE GIRLS. Quito recently three attendants at the Central' Telephone Exchange refused, on account 1 of conscientious objections to Sabbath work, to go on duty, and were thereupon promptly suspended by the Deputy Postmaster-General (Mr. Bright), says tho "Australasian." It was said during tho week that there were about 200 conscientious. objectors out of 300 attendants engaged, and that others would refuso work last Sunday. However, only four refused £>n that day, and they were also suspended from duty. It would take a much larger • number of. refusals to disorganise ,tho work, of: the department, ■ But it is believed;.that the:, seven objectors intended to fight the question. It has" been pointed out: that tho' conscientious objector is no friend to her coworkers,- who have to do . the work she refuses.."What about their consoience'.in regard to breaking a law of the - •department?" said . a .postal official. "This regulation ha<s the effect of laiv. The girls are well paid, and when they reach 21. after three years' service, they receive ,£llO a year. We have taken a certain amount of money from the public for a complete telephone service, inoludin" Rniul*v, r>ml i"'w ™ir employees ar-o trying to do something that might lead to the breaking of the contract. To talk of Is. a call on Sunday is absurd, and it would moan a great tax on poor people." According to the experience of the Tederal Publi' 1 Service there no difficulty in securing suitable candidates fir the position of telephone attendants. In the last examination for telephone attendants thero w-are 2.1 vacancies, for which '175 applied, and 219 were successful. It is claimed by departmental officers that there is a.irood deal of "fashion" .or "get-what-the-other-fcllow-get':" in the Sunday work movement'.- One girl explained that she used to" hnvft conscientious scruples against working on Sunday, because she liked to have her Sunday off. "Was that the only reason ?" she was asked. "Xo. A lot of the other girls wanted Sunday o(T, and I wished to go with them and shave alike," she replied.
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Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1084, 24 March 1911, Page 9
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346CONSCIENTIOUS SCRUPLES. Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1084, 24 March 1911, Page 9
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