UNDESIRABLE TREND

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25173, 13 March 1943, Page 4

UNDESIRABLE TREND

YOUNG GIRLS IN FACTORIES PROVISION FOR WELFARE Concern regarding the large numbers of young girls who are leaving school at an early age and taking up employment in factories and other industrial •venues was expressed by the national secretary of the Y.W.C.A. (Miss E. Law) in an interview yesterday. Pointing out that the age at which a child was allowed to leave school in New Zealand was 14 years or when a Sixth Standard education had been completed, Miss Law added that, because it was the policy of the education authorities not to retard the progress of a child, even a backward pupil was seldom kept for two years in one class. This meant that even the more backward scholars usually finished their primary schooling by the time they were 13 years. The school leaving age in Great Britain was 15 years, and, although New Zealanders were apt to boast that their country led the way in various social services, they could not claim leadership in this respect. Statistics Quoted Quoting official figures, Miss Law stated that in the last five years 21,000 boys and girls under 16 had entered factory employment. In 1940, 2407 girls under 16 years of age were employed in factories, and of these 350 ' were under the age of 14. It was regrettable that girls of those ages were going to work, for, in addition to the fact that they were immature, physically, mentally, and emotionally, their hours of work were not always restricted to 40 a week. It was possible for an employer to work his employees, irrespective of age, four nights 3 at the end of 1941, 127 primary school girls went directly from school to employment, and an additional 32 left school to remain at home, Miss Law continued. Fifty-three girls left the city and suburban public schools before completing their education in Standard VI, and of these 23 went 'to work from Standard V and lower classes. The Dunedin vocational guidance officer (Miss L. Vial) had stated that the situation in Dunedin was much less acute than in other centres, but there were trends which needed to be guarded against. These young workers tended to drift from one job to another. Since the commencement of the war this problem had been one of the main concerns of the Y.W.C.A. of New Zealand. These very young workers were likely to suffer in several ways, added Miss Law. There was a possibility of their physical and mental health deteriorating as a result of long hours of work, with little freedom for movement. Children of 13 and 14 years should have school work and school recreation. It was unnatural for them to sit or stand in practically the same position all day. The likelihood of a break-down of conduct had also to be borne in mind. All children had a ■passionate urge for freedom of action, and the reaction to long periods of mechanical work might result in either boisterousness or apathy. Home control was inclined to cease at an earlier stage than was desirable, as the child began to feel her independence as soon as she began earning wages. Advantages Lost

The if.W.C.A. and other similar societies which provided for the leisure time of young workers were of increasing importance, said Miss Law. Interesting pastimes, such as crafts, music, drama, sport, and social recreation for boys and girls together, all became much more vital. There was a danger that young lives would be deprived of these advantages at the very time when the child would have appreciated them at school. It was the duty of these voluntary societies to continue the education oi the children. Of special importance was the matter of helping girls to preserve the ideals of girlhood and womanhood, and of helping them to realise their responsibility to the next generation. These young workers were giving valuable assistance in the war effort, and every consideration must be given to their welfare.