WOMEN RAILWAY PORTERS

Dominion, Volume 35, Issue 173, 18 April 1942, Page 8

WOMEN RAILWAY PORTERS

Wellington Staff Engaged SCHEME TO START THIS MONTH For the first time in the history of the New Zealand Railways Department, young women who have already been selected will begin duties ns porters at the Wellington station bn Mon-, day week. April 27. For a period of two weeks they will undergo intensive training under supervision. When they become efficient they will carry out their duties as ordinary railway operatives. -Between 25 and 30 will begin duty at Wellington, which will be a testing centre for the. scheme, after which it will be rapidly extended in the following few weeks to all suitable stations. It is estimated that about 100 young women can be placed as porters as a commencement. They will form the nucleus for its subsequent general application Women ffere employed by the Railways Department during the last war as carriage cleaners, but that was as tar as the utilization of their services went. Travellers by rail from Wellington on Monday week will see young women in attractive blue uniforms with silver buttons, and blue caps similar in design to that of the postwomen, carrying out the duties of porters. The appointees will undergo a syllabus of training both on the theoretical and practical sides. It is stated that those who have so far offered their services are a very good type both for physique and intelligence, and this has been very encouraging.

Recently a woman announcer took up duties at the Wellington station platform, replacing the man who had been engaged in these duties. "In order to meet the loss of manpower as it affects all branches of railway activities,” said the staff superintendent, .Mr. A. G. Leviek, yesterday, “every avenue has been explored with a view to adjusting the staffing problem and releasing as many men as possible for service with the armed forces. This has always been the department’s policy, but at the same time, it has had to keep the Dominion's rail transportation system in the highest possible state of efficiency. Review of Staff Requirements.

“We have had a complete review of staff requirements throughout New Zealand by select committees working under the direction of the staff superintendent. Some of,the investigations are not quite complete. Possibilities have been investigated in the recruitment of female employees wherever possible, the extension of working hours, and the re-engagement of superannuitants. Some of the latter have offered their services at posts in a lower grade than that from which they retired. The elimination of some classes of work, mainly clerical, which can be dispensed with temporarily, has been dealt with. Statistical and other returns required have been reduced, and we are putting adding machines in all the main station offices and in the chief goods offices at the larger centres.

“The term ‘porter’ is really a misnomer. This class of employee might be described as a general utility worker. He attends to platform work, the transfer of luggage, etc., but the important part of his job is the piloting of trains through yards like that of ■Wellington, with its complex signalling arrangements. He has to be well trained in signalling, tablet operation, ticket cheeking, and so on. “Since the outbreak of war we'have lost 50 per cent, of our trained staff of porters. Though there have since been 800 junior appointees, this does not compensate for the loss in working efficiency. Moreover, junior porters, difficult to recruit, start at the age of 16, but at 18 become liable for military service.

“The possibility of female labour raking the place of some of tlie porters has been gone into by the department. It is not expected that they should be able lo carry out all Hie duties, but the work they will be able to take up will release the male porters for attachment to the shunting yards and busiest positions.

"We propose to employ, al all Hie main railway centres, women aged 21 to 35 years. They will assist guards in lieket cheeking on trains. handle luggage and parcels, anil do light cleaning work in the carriages ami on the station premises.”