MEN.v. WOMEN WORKERS.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LVIII, Issue 14324, 29 September 1910, Page 7

MEN.v. WOMEN WORKERS.

The-just-issued report of the Commonwealth Public Service Commissioner, in the pages in which he deals with-sick leave, gives interesting comparisons between the work of male and female employees, and opens up tho question (vs to equal payment, of the sexes. The report considers it extremely doubtful whether in most cases male and female employees render equal service. Constitutional differences favour tho men and make them more efficient. Moreover,-the report adds, other Government institutions employing largo" bodies of women have arrived at similar conclusions.. Dealing with female officers in the Postmaster-General’s Department,, it is found that 43 per cent, of the total number employed are granted leave through illness, as against 29 per cent, of male officers, while the average absence per annum of male; officers, 1 taking the total number-em-ployed is 5.9 days, as against 12.5 in the case of females. Even whore the conditions of employment are the same, and tho period of-life approximates, iit is found that the efficiency ! of female labour is seriously decreased by absences from duty through sickness. In tho six States the percentage of postmasters absent is 17 per cent., as against 28 per cent, of postmistresses, the average duration of sick leave being 32 days for postmasters and 44 for postmistresses. In the case of telephonists similar conditions prevail; and it must be borne in mind that while male telephonists are required to perform night duty at regular intervals, females are free from this disability. Despite this disadvantage, only 28 per cent, of male telephonists are absent from duty by rest on of illness, as against 46 per cent, of females, while the average duration of sick leave per annum is for males 17 days, and for females 26 days. -Taking tho whole of the staff of telephonists, and not merely those actually absent through illness, the average duration of absence per annum' on account of sickness is males 4.7 days, and for females 11.9 ■ days; l , ; i k i ■