BOYS ARE REPLACING GIRLS IN OFFICES

Dominion, Volume 28, Issue 99, 21 January 1935, Page 10

BOYS ARE REPLACING GIRLS IN OFFICES

A Turn of the Tide NEW POLICY LAID DOWN BY 7 SOME EMPLOYERS For some time past there has been a good deal of criticism, not only in New Zealand, but all over the civilised world, at the manner in which girl labour has displaced boy and youth labour in offices. It began during tlie wor. When the young men were required for other purposes, women proved themselves to be most efficient in many fields of labour which until then had been considered the prerogative of man. Sixteen years ago the war ended. To-day the most difficult thing to do is to provide lads of sixteen witli suitable jobs. Two years ago the position was acute, and the Boy Employment Committee of tlie Wellington Y.M.C.A. had a waiting list of strong, capable boys running into hundreds. The last six months has witnessed a change for the better. There has been a turn in tlie tide. A change in public opinion is evident. Some employers have come to see that work should he given to the boys rather than to girls—for just as tlie boy is father of the man, he has to be given his chance to meet the responsibilities of fatherdom. More than one big firm in New Zealand has laid down a policy on the question—that as girls leave for this or that reason, they are to he replaced by boy cadets. One important bank has adopted this attitude. There are to be no drastic changes, but. as occasion offers, young women are being replaced by young men. There is even a demand to-day for youths who can typewrite and do a little shorthand.