Importing Female Labour

Manawatu Times, Volume 64, Issue 132, 7 June 1939, Page 7

Importing Female Labour

Skilled Girls From Britain and Australia FLANS NOW UNDER WAY Per Press Association. CHRISTCHURCH, Last Night. ■ Plans are now under way to bring to New Zealand skilled girl factory workers from Britain and Australia. Female labour for factories has become so hard to find that this step is being taken at mice. At the same time requests are now before the Minister of Labour (Hon. P. C. Webb) for an extension of the adult apprenticeship subsidy scheme to cover women workers. If this extension is granted it will be practicable to employ unskilled women who are over 21 years of age. The shortage of female labour is reported to be causing embarrassment to manufacturers, particularly in the North Island. Footwear and clothing factories are probably the most directly affected, operations in many factories having been delayed for lack of skilled girl workers. The shortage of girl workers applies not only to factories. Hospitals all over the country aro having difficulty in finding all tho nurses they need and there are still comparatively few girls and women willing to do domestic work. The Government has been approached by the Home Service Associations in various centres with a request that a system of assisted passages for domestic workers from England should be introduced. The request is under the consideration of the Government.