THE GIRL OF TO-DAY

Evening Star, Issue 20671, 19 December 1930, Page 9

THE GIRL OF TO-DAY

HER PLACE IN INDUSTRY VARIOUS VIEWS [Special to the ‘Star.’] CHRISTCHURCH, December IS. Christchurch women are very far from agreeing w ith Mr Dan Reese, who, at the breaking-up _ ceremony of the West Christchurch District High School, declared that girls in these days could very well staj at home. His further statement that positions vacated by girls should bo filled by boys was strongly disputed, The general opinion was that girls must bo trained to support themselves. “ Many girls are entirely without homes,” said an official pf the Y.W.C.A., “- nd just at this time others are helping very materially to keep the homes together. This is one of tho contributing factors towards the closing of our cafeteria. Tho girls could not afford to take even the cheap meals wo provide there because all their earnings were needed to help at home, and it must bo remembered that a girl with no training and no means of support is very much more at a loss than a boy.” “ I agree that home life is the best life for a girl, and every woman is naturally c Tionu maker,” said Miss K. M. Gresson, principal of Avonsido Girls’ High School, “ but who is going to support the girls at home? Why, with many girls in one family they would bo falling over one another. Girls must be trained to support themselves in after life, and in these days, so far as our girls are concerned, they must bo able to provide for themselves.” “ I agree,” added Miss Gresson, “ that it is absolutely necessary for a boy to obtain work, and where possible ho should have "it; but I cannot see that tho position would bo bettered by the suggeslion.”