WOMEN NEEDED

New Zealand Herald, Volume 82, Issue 25259, 20 July 1945, Page 9

WOMEN NEEDED

STAFFING hospitals insurance office girls banks next on the list An indication that the National Ser'vice D e P nrtment . was having extreme difficulty in providing staffs for the growing number of institutions under the control "of the Auckland Hospital Board was given by the district manpower officer,, Mr C. G. S. Ellis, yesterday, at a sitting of the Auckland Industrial Manpower Committee, which heard 13 appeals concerning women employees of insurance companies directed to the Green Lane Hospital, Mr Ellis laid the reserve of women in insurance offices had now been completely reviewed and an immediate start would be made on "the staffs of banks. "In December, 1943, the finjt intimation was made that women would bo needed., for staffing the hospitals in Auckland and that the matter would become urgent with the opening of the Jliddlemore Hospital," said Mr Ellis. Since that date the hospital board had taken over the Cornwall Hospital from the Americans. Early this year, the Minister of Manpower, Mr McLagan, bad announced the calling up of unmarried women in Auckland who had attained their 21st birthday but not their 23rd. This covered all such persons irrespective of they were working in Government departments or essential industries. Consideration Given "About two months' ago, a commencement was made with tin interviewing of all girls of 21 to 22 employed in insurance offices in the city with a view to directing those found suitable,"' continued Mr F.llis. There were 329 women employed in the various insurance offices and after considering the personal circumstances of each one and the staff positions of the firms, a total of only 18 women had been directed up to the present. The companies had received consideration from his department. in some cases time being allowed to train a replacement although it was considered that in view of the Minister's statement in January employers had had ample time to provide for the contingencv. Mr Ellis said the staffing of the hospitals was of high priority and i$ was work only women could do. The posi-

tion of female labour in Auckland was acute, and with the relaxing of the ' control over wives of servicemen and women over 40 years, the position would tend to become worse. At the present moment there was an urgent requisition from the Green Lane and Cornwall hospitals for 38 nurse attendants, 21 wardsmaids and 14 domestics, which would only # bring the existing staff up to normal. If the requisition qould be filled, it would be possible to transfer 87 elderly people to the Cornwall Hospital from two of the eldest and most dilapidated wards at Green Lane.

Many Exemptions

It was anticipated that the Middle

more Hospital would be opening toward the end of October or the beginning of November and this would entail the calling up of a further 200 untrained women. He also understood that the Cornwall Hospital was t> be expanded. "I feel I should call your attention to some of the difficulties in this 21-22 ace group,"- added Mr Ellis, The depart- / mpnt had had to exempt, among others, training college students, .nurses, operatives in clothing and boot trades, legal typists and many short-hand-typists. There was a total of 2400 ■women in the group. Of these 2000 had been interviewed and it was going to be difficult to find 300 to 400 who could be spared for hospital work. N Representing some of the appellant firms, Mr Goldstine said he thought Mr Ellis had summed up the position in a very fair way, but his sympathy was poor consolation for the companies ■which were carrying on with no more than skeleton staffs. Decisions Keserved "It will be observed that-all the direc- : tions are from the 21-22 age group and that apparently the banks are to be next," continued counsel. "I suggest that, if 300 girls are required, the National Service Department, in fairness to the business communitv, should interview girls from every walk of life before making directions rather than take individual groups. It might even be necessary to go to higher age , groups." Referring to the needs of the Middlemore Hospital, Mr Goldstine said the hospital board had not yet decided what it was going to use it for. Some cases had been shifted into the Corn- 1 wall Hospital, but he had good reason to know tf'6 board had not decided on just how much of that institution it was going to use. Counsel suggested that the reason for insurance companies being granted a certain amount of immunity in the past was because they had adopted a policy of not appealing for grade 1 men called tip for service overseas. Those men had been replaced with girls who had to be trained in specialised and'difficult work.

Decision was reserved in all the appeals. *

WORKERS' HOMES

COUNCIL'S ENTERPRISE '<O.C.> HAMILTON. Thursday The shortage of suitable dwellings for its employees caused the Raglan County Council to embark on a housing scheme some 18 months ago. A loan of £15,000 ivas raised, and since then 12 houses in different parts of the widespread county have been erected. Five houses which have just been completed and are now occupied at Ngaruawahia were built in brick veneer with fibroute roofs, and are fitted with every modern convenience. • The council adopted tlie policy of building the houses to suit the employees, and irrespective of the size of families the weekly rent is one day's pay for each man. The average cost of the houses was 30s a square foot. The usual difficulties of shortage of material and labour were met with, but Rood team work Hv the contractor, the council and the architect resulted in the houses being built and completed with a minimum of delay. The opinion has been expressed by the council, after itfi own experience, that if authorities and builders worked in close co-opera-tion and pushed on with the job, the housing shortage could be overcome.