WOMEN WORKERS

New Zealand Herald, Volume 79, Issue 24275, 16 May 1942, Page 4

WOMEN WORKERS

AUSTRALIA'S WAB NEED FROM GOLF TO BENCH SYDNEY. May 14 The number of women employed in Australia, 551,000, excluding domestic servants, is an increase of 40,000 since July, 1941. Because of the shortage of men caused by the Army call-up, the manpower authorities are seeking to increase this number, especially in industries associated with the war effort. The Minister for Aircraft Production, Senator Cameron, says he believes that women of the leisured class would make good munition workers. "I disagree with the opinion that the average privileged woman is unsuitable," Senator Cameron said. "Socialites excel at golf, tennis, and organising cocktail parties and entertainments. These activities call for adaptability and skill which could be exercised usefully in munition factories. Ballet dancers and beauty-pkrlour experts have gone into factories at Fisherman's Bend, in Victoria, and have learned the work in a few days." The deputy-Director-General of Manpower, Mr. Bellmore, indicated that women of independent means who are not working in any industry might be required to register as unemployed as the demand for female' labour increased. Men under 60 who are unemployed for more than a week are already required to register at a National Service Office. About 86,000 women are working for the Federal and State Governments, including 40,000 in Government munition works. The Minister for Munitions, Mr. Makin, said that the estimate that factories would require 12,700 more women in the six months ending June 30 had proved to be insufficient. The South Australian Director of Manpower, Mr. Hunkin, announced that 3000 Adelaide shopgirls, between 19 and 26, would be compulsorily transferred to war work if they did not volunteer. Murwillumbah, on the New South Wales-Queensland border, has women bus drivers, ferry-punt operators, and even a woman plumber. Mrs. Ailie Jubert, of Tweed Heads, works a mechanical flying-fox to drag bunches of bananas from the steep slopes of one plantation.