WOMEN IN INDUSTRY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVII, Issue 17371, 19 January 1920, Page 5

WOMEN IN INDUSTRY.

RETENTION AFTER THE WAR.

ATTITUDE OF BRITISH FIRMS.

The question of the extent to which women may, with advantage to themselves and from the point of view of national production, be employed in industry _» raised in a report issued bv the Bntieh Women's Industrial League, whose object it is " to secure equality of treatment and opportunity for employment of women. The report, which embodies information received from over 1400 firms, covering a wide field in engineering and other trades, calls attention to the thousand* of women who have been turned out of these industries despite the shortage of trained labour and the necessity for increased production. . » . A circular letter with a questionnaire attached was addressed to 5000 firms in England, Scotland, and Wales, and replies were received from 1422. Firms who have employed women on the lighter processes have, Bays the report,. expressed themselves, almost without exception, as beinu highly satisfied with their work; many state they are willing to retain some of the women, and others regret that the return of the demobilised 6oldiers, lack of trade, and the uncertainty of the future j has meant their dismissal. Several firms promise to reinstate th- women if agreements with the Trade Unions can be made. *' ■'.• ■'• ' , , At the end of May, 1919, it appears that 79,700 women were -employed, as against •24,1500 before the war. A. third of the firms who employed women for the first time during the war have been able to retain them on some processes, and a further third would be willing; to keep them on but for the opposition to such a policy. Of the . firms which had employed women in pre-war days, 67 purpose to increase their number. \ . ,; ;-,":'-« 'i^UtefK&tiS