WOMEN AT WORK

New Zealand Herald, Volume 79, Issue 24275, 16 May 1942, Page 8

WOMEN AT WORK

SERVICE JOBS SOUGHT SOME AVENUES NEGLECTED domestic help problem There is no shortage of girls and women for jobs in which they will be replacing men. Such work g.ves them the sense of making a definite contribution to the war effort. Outside the ranks of the 20-21 age group that has been required to register for national service, there is a steady stream of volunteers to the Auckland Placement Office seeking service of a similar .character. A woman who holds a heavy traffic driving licence yesterday applied for a lorrv driving job. There will be no lack of recruits for the women's sections of the armed forces. Service there, to say nothing of the fact that uniforms are worn, gives perhaps the highest degree of satisfaction to women who are eagei to do their utmost in the war effort. High Wages Offered Tn the hope oi being appointed tram conductors by the Transport Board a considerable number of women are refraining from committing themselves to other employment. In many avenues of normal female employment, however, there is a shortage, particularly of domestics, and of those who are prepared to continue in this work or take it up. Most are averse to working in a home where there are old people or cases of sickness. For one live-out domestic position that is not filled a weekly wage of £2 is offered for five days of four and a-half hours, the day starting at 3.15 p.m. Another vacant job is that of cook-general in a home where there are no children. The wage is £2, the woman will live in and she may take a child with her. Waitresses Wanted The number of requests received by employing agencies from boardinghouses for cooks and maids indicates that this industry is in constant difficulties in regard to trained staff. There is a marked shortage of waitresses in Auckland, a position that appears to be general throughout the* Dominion. Yesterday one city tearoom had 22 waitresses on duty but it required at least 36. It is apparent that many girls skilled in the work of serving food have gone to other occupations. The service at the Frankton railway refreshment room on a recent evening was anything but satisfactory. For women clerks there is competition, and some movement is reported, with consequential adverse effect upon office organisation of some firms. CLAIM FAILS WITHDRAWN FROM JURY TRAFFIC INSPECTOR'S CASE (0.C.) _ _ HAMILTON, Friday The case in which John Ireton, traffic inspector, Hamilton (Mr. King and Mr. X. I. Smith), sought to recover £975 damages from Sinclair Anderson White, traveller, and his employers, Hancock and Company, Limited, Auckland (Mr. Strang), was withdrawn from the jury by Mr. Justice Johnstone, who gave judgment for the defendants, with costs and witnesses' expenses. The case arose out of an accident on the Ohaupo Road, near Hamilton, on the night of November 11. The plaintiff gave evidence that he saw a car pass him at a high rate of j speed and he gave chase. The first car reached 80 miles an hour. On turning a corner plaintiff's car overturned and he was seriously injured. Mr. Strang applied for a nonsuit on the grounds that plaintiff's injuries were too remote in relation to the alleged negligence of White. Mr. Smith contended that plaintiff was only doing his duty in pursuing White's car and that White's negligence was the cause of the accident. His Honor held that plaintiff had unduly dramatised his action and that he had not performed any special act of bravery in doing what he did. He had merely carried out his duty as a traffic inspector. It was clear that plaintiff's own excessive speed was the true cause of the accident and that there had been no force or compulsion which brought him within the purview of the authorities known as "rescue" cases. ALLEGED RIFLE SHOT MURDER ATTEMPT CHARGE FARMER TO STAND TRIAL (P.A.) NEW PLYMOUTH, Friday Charged with the attempted murder of Ivy Elizabeth McDonald on April 22, Albert James Cunniffe, of Rahotu, farmer, was committed for trial to-day by .Mr. W. H. Woodward, S.M., after pleading not guilty. The alleged victim said she married Claude McDonald at Christchurch in 1917 and left him in 1920. She had lived with Cunniffe for the last 20 years. On the night of April 17, the family went ' to a dance, and on their return the j accused complained about her eldest J daughter, June, dancing with a boy. ] The following Wednesday the accused ! threatened to shoot June and witness, j She saw him take cartridges for a rifle, 1 and with her daughter Beverley wit- j ness went to warn June. Later she saw j his head over a fence, then heard aj rifle shot and a bullet landed in the j grass near Beverley. Witness and Bev- j erley went toward the bush, accused | following. They took June to a neigh- ! hour's home. Before that date accused j had threatened to "blow us to pieces," j added witness. Similar evidence .was given by June and Beverley Cunniffe. Andrew Frank Mischefski said he met j the accused carrying a rifle. The accused : asked where June and her pony were, I adding that he would shoot the pony, j Later he saw the accused aim the rifle, ! but did not hear a shot. OPIUM SMOKER FINED (0.C.) HAMILTON, Friday A Chinese, Ah Chan, aged 43 (Mr. ! McMullin), was fined £25 by Mr. W. | H. Freeman, S.M., in Hamilton, for j having prepared opium in his posses- j sion. It was stated that accused was j found smoking in premises in Ward! Street. A pipe and other material were! seized.