WORK FOR GIRLS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23575, 8 February 1940, Page 6

WORK FOR GIRLS

.WARTIME "VACANCIES ¥ EMPLOYMENT IN OFFICES FACTORY LABOUR DEMAND Many vacancies in Auckland offices caused by the enlistment of men in the Army, have been filled by women, but this class of occupation appears to be the only one where there has so far been any important replacement of male by female labour through the demands of the war. In the past fewweeks there hare been instances of women entering occupations formerly * the preserve of men, but the reasons do not appear to be connected with the war. An engineering assembly works has just engaged girls to . attend to machines, but the modern plant is suitable for female supervision,' Large numbers of such tradesmen as mechanics, fitters and pattern-makers have recently left the engineering trades and joined the Royal -New Zealand Air Force, but it is regarded as highly improbable that vacancies in such occupations will ever be filled by girls. Inquiries show that the State; Placement Service has supplied many girls for general office work to replace men who have enlisted. While the demand for women to keep ledgers and do other general office work is progressively increasing as a consequence of the war. the inquiry for girls whose qualifications are limited to shorthand and typewriting is restricted, there being at the moment a surplus of this type of labour. Many girls engaged as typists soon gain a proficiency in other office duties, and some sent forward by the to fill positions vacated by men owe their employment to the acquirement of office knowledge for which they . were not specifically trained.

Army work in the factories has intensified ,an unsatisfied demand for some classes of female labour. Women machinists in most classes of clothing and footwear factories are still being keenly .sought, and many married women whose husbands have enlisted have returned to factory work, the same situation applying in offices. In the past few days many factories hare been seeking unskilled female labour, but the work, such as jam-making, i 3 mostly seasonal. .