GIRLS IN PRINTING TRADE

Taranaki Daily News, 5 December 1930, Page 9

GIRLS IN PRINTING TRADE

ARBITRATION COURT ATTITUDE.

APPRENTICESHIP NOT GRANTED.

By Telegraph.—Press Association. ! Auckland} Last Night.

While giving no ruling on the desirability of the employment of women in the printing trade ‘ the Arbitration Court to-day refused to grant an application for- the registration of an apprenticeship contract concerning a female apprentice. The girl concerned, Cicely Ellen May Holmes, was 14 years old and had been employed as an apprentice by the Waiukii News. In opposing the application Mr. Cleveland for the unibn .', said it was not right for female labour to be employed when there were, so many boys ready to enter the trade. There would be no difficulty iii getting a male apprentice from Auckland. . ~ question of law arises .in . this matter,” said his Honour, in giving, the decision of the court; “it is entirely: a matter of general principles? . The question may arise as to the suitability of the printing trade for female, workers but-.we desire to express no .opinion on that poiritt'j The Master Printers’ Association and various unions have set their faces against the employment of female workers and their • position is still further buttressed by awards made' since 1919 which have rather. discountenanced the employment of females without actually. prohibiting it. . J,‘lf. this girl is permitted to be apprenticed to the trade she will/be 20. years, of age when the apprenticeship ends but unless there is an entire change of front on the part bf the Master Printers’ Association there -would be little chance of her finding- further employment in the trade. .Her employer has suggested that if the girl was taken on as an apprentice ' she would not be faced with any particular hardship at the end of her term as: she might get married. It. is impossible to assume, however, that any girl -will marry at a certain age and the position would be that in the case of' this girl six years of her life would have 'been to all intents and purposes wasted.” “She would have missed an opportunity‘of learning some other trade -which would be useful to her and would be in an infinitely worse position! than a girl who started at the same! age as a shop assistant. Although the court has. power to approve this apprenticeship contract it would be unwise in the interests’ of the girl herself to do so. The application is' refused.”