THE CASE OF THE CLERK

Evening Post, Volume CXIII, Issue 136, 13 June 1927, Page 8

THE CASE OF THE CLERK

(To the Editor.)

Sir, —Regarding the case of the clerk, your correspondent, "Experience," brings out some points that will not be easily answered by the persons concerned, and to give a concrete instance of how some firms treat their responsible employees. I wish to state the facts of one case—a manufacturing concern with a branch factory here, employing about six factory hands and a working foreman, pay the branch manager the princely wage "of £i 10s o<l per week.

The workmen in some cases arc getting as much or more than the man in charge, and he is expected to run the place efficiently, keep a record of the factory costs, canvass the town for orders, and generally manage the place.

Of course he is told the old, old story, "the prospects are good"; but unfortunately a man and his wife cannot live on prospects. Moreover, when he has remained in their employ sufficiently long to warrant an increase in wages, au excuse may be • found to dispense with' his services, and get another man on exactly the same lines; such are the methods of some of these 'firms.

Xow, Sir, in cases like the above, is it just? Can a man be expected to continually do the right thing? If a man in a like position converted the firm's money the Court would convict. Thia is quite in order on the face of things, but the employers are guilty of a-worse kind of theft, namely, that of converting the brains and ability of their branch manager to their own usd, as surely a man is not being paid for that part of the work. It may be argued that a man steps into such jobs knowing all the facts, and therefore has no case. Thia may be so to a certain extent, but the "prospects" are so rosy—or so the employers lead him to think —that the man is fooled into taking the post, and month after mouth tries to push up the sales so that he .will transform the vague term "good prospects" into "real money." As time goes on lie finds that it is all a frost, and perhaps later he hardens and tries to get square; the result is well known.

In tiles* days of Arbitration Courts and awards, ii seems a surprising thing that

there is no assistance coming to clerk* and people in managerial posts, for if: it bu agreed that other tradesmen should have an award, why not the office man? No doubt your readers could give many cases in point. That would show beyond all doubt that the clerk is badly underpaid* Unly the other day a book-keeper and general clerk was advertised for at the wage of £3 10s per weeic. Can a man be expected to think, if paid such a miserable pittance?

"i>* V»? s interesting to read in last night's Post of an English employer who would not employ a girl in his office, saying that it was a man's job. How does rthis nt in with the glowing tribute paid by Uinstchurch employers recently to girls m offices? We can only assume that the pannes* brings forth the praise. - Although it is not desired to slight tne women, where honesty, etc., in offices 11 c. on. c, e.rne<l. tlle ivriter would point out tnat this kind of work is .comparatively | new for women. Moreover, the average girl views the years from sixteen to about twenty-three as a period in which to pass, tne time and earn a little pocket-money m the most attractive way. If her hopes are achieved, she will marry at about the latter age, and has no further use for ofcee wosk. W this state of affaire, although suiting both parties for the time being is not to their ultimate good, but, strange to say, neither the employer nor the girl can see it, and if the work is v?rv- ■ attractive to the girl- she' probably scorns mamage, thereby helping to injure the tuture supply o f labour and providing for herself an unattractive old age. It is mainly because the office girl hat no immediate responsibilities thgt the employer hnds her so useful, but the effectß of tins, are bound to be felt the world ov«r later on, and in the meantime we have many men who have been displaced, and t°hlf S-! aanTetc:! 8e' nth June. ' OBSERVER '