WOMEN TELEPHONISTS

Hawera Star, Volume L, 23 October 1930, Page 8

WOMEN TELEPHONISTS

QUICKER THAN MEN

LONDON NIGHT CALL PROBLEM

A very piquant position has arisen in the London Telephone Service. The Postmaster-General i-s -so convinced of the superiority of women over men as telephonists that he is anxious to improve the night service bv employing women. But the women do not want to be employed. They are content with their present hours, which in' London end, except in emergencies, at S.lo. “Many complaints have heen received of delay in answering calls at night,” said an official of the Post Office recently. “Women have proved to lie so much quicker than men that the Postmaster-General is anxious to have their services after 8 p.m.” The Postmaster-General lias been discussing the matter with the Union of Post Office Workers, who are strongly opposed to the suggested change. Post Office figures recently showed that in London, 'while tile time taken to answer a call is only 6.3 seconds from S a.in. to <5 p.m.. it- is 8.0 seconds while a mixed staff is employed from 5 p.m. till 8 p.m.. and as much as 13 -seconds after 8 p.m. The secretary of the Union of Post Office Workers -stated that his organisation intended to challenge these figures. “We * admit that the night service is not as good as it- should be,” bo said, “but that is because so many part-time men telephonists, who are engaged in other occupations 'during the day. are employed.” The “News-Chronicle” makes the following editorial comment- on the subject: “Why should women’s voices be clearer on the telephone than i men’s? There seems to be a general consensus of opinion that they are. We suspect that- reallv other qualities besides voice production influence the public opinion in this matter. No class has been so much abused for its faults and «-o little praised for its undoubted and remarkable virtues as the woman telephonist.”