A MARRIAGE BOOM.

Otago Witness, Issue 3419, 26 September 1919, Page 6

A MARRIAGE BOOM.

SOLDIERS AND THEIR, BRIDES.

Something in the nature of a marriage boom is occurring in Dunedin at the present time. This is a highly desirable state of affairs in itself, but it is having the result of seriously depleting the female staffs of .many business houses. Last month the number of wedidings celebrated in Dunedin was exactly double the number recorded in August, 1918, and more have already been registered during the first half of this month than for the whole of the month last year. On the day when Lord Jeilicoe was in Dunedin the registrar himself joined three couples in the bonds of matrimony. . While it is difficult to say that any actual shortage of female workers is being created, certain classes of employment, such as dressmaking, for instance, are considerably understaffed, and those in a position to know: say emphatically that the matter is growing worse rather than better. Dressmaking is a good, useful occupation for a girl, but it is undeniable that many other vocations possess an irresistible glamour for the feminine mind. The average ■ "young lady" setting out to establish herself in life shows a much keener desire to tap the keys of a typewriter or add up long columns of figures than to ply the industrious needle, and, incidentally, by following a prosaic occupation, to fit herself for one of the many branches of domestic duty in the future. Frankly stated, dressmaking as a means of employment fails to -repeal to the majority of girls. They regard the hours as long, the work as monotonous, and the wages as low by comparison with those paid in other more attractive vocations, although of recent years these have been increased in order to main-ti-'n the supply of workers. Office girls, on the other hand, prefer to work for men rather than for women; they have good hours and congenial employment, and very often provision is made to enable them to <>njoy morning and afternoon tea. _ Their salary is sufficient to ensure the attainment of their heart's desire in the matter of "nice" clothes and things; and if office work does not in the majority of cases lead anywhere, it generally ends in someone leading them to the altar. During the war period friendships among youri? people ripened rapidly. Many a soldier marching away to battle sealed an engagement on the eve of his departure, ■'M'.'h under ordinary circumstances, would not have come to maturity without a much longer period of Then folIniW the anxious period of waiting, broken every now and then by letters from abroad, full of tender sentiments and the expression of brisrht hopes for the future. At last came the glad news that the soldier boy was on his way home again. Then followed the greeting at the station, with its moment of tense joy, when heart went out to heart and two lives long held asunder were reunited in bonds of the tenderest affection. Frequently, at the earliest possible moment, arrangements are put in train for the happy event, which is to take place on a date not too far distant. For has not the generous pay earned by the soldier in the task of risking his life for a grateful country been so carefully safeguarded by a paternal Government that he has quite a substantial account to his credit in the bank, and now, if never before, he appreciates the fatherly action of the authorities at home? No novelist of note pays any further attention to the history of his hero and heroine after this stage except to infer that they "lived happily ever after." ._ It should not be assumed from the foregoing that all the soldiers are marrying "dressmakers, for their brides are being drawn from every class in the _ community. Certain it is, however, that this branch of female employment is suffering as a result of the present matrimonial boom, but the other factors which have already been indicated are playing an important part. The head of one department, in conversation with a i-eporter, said that the shortage of girls as dressmakers had gradually been growing acute for a considerable time, but latterly it had become more than ever accentuated. "Recently," she said, "I advertised for a week for girls for all my departments, but I did not get a single applicant. On the other hand., a friend of mine who advertised for an office girl to answer telephone rings and that sort .of thing got nearly 40 replies! When our girls leave us we miss them very much, but we like to see them getting married. I told one girl the other day that if married life did not come up to her expectations she would always be able to obtain a position as a dressmaker."

The manager of another large store said he was unable to assign the cause, but there was undoubtedly a shortage of girls throughout the whole of his departments. "Quite a number." he said, "hare been married during the last 12 months, mostly

to soldiers, and for some time past we In been steadily losing the services of g who got married on the eve of the dep ture of their husbands for the front, i are now going to live in their own hon In the dressmaking department the short; of hands will be very acute during next few months, when the heavy Chnstr business commences. We are strongly vising our customers to book their ord early, and it is doubtful if we will be a to accept any fresh orders for this yi after the end of October."