WINNING THE WAR.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 11755, 20 July 1916, Page 6

WINNING THE WAR.

WOMEN AT WORK. SCHOOL OF TELEGRAPHY. Tho new departure on tho part of tho Government in connection with a school of telegraphy for girls took definite shape this morning wlion fortyeight girls, representing a full class, commenced their training. Tho successful girls had to produce Sixth Standard proficiency certificates, ana to pass tho usual medical tost. ' Tho school is held on tho top floor of the now Government building, whero two largo and very comfortablo rooms have been fitted up. One will bo used as a retiring room for the girls, where they may havo lunch, etc., and as thero is no ga!i in tho building, electric heaters are -to bo installed. Tho other room contains two long tables, on which forty-eight keys and sounders have been fitted. Tho girls will have' training in all kinds of telegraphic work, including Press messages, and will also bo taught all commercial and Pross expressions. For tho purposes of instruction "dummy messages," that is, those that are somo months old, will be used. It is considered that the course will tako between six and eight months, though the pupils shoukl be competent onerators at tho end of tho first half-year. It is not proposed to hold any examination for tho first two months, as tho superintendent will, during that time, be able to gauge the capabilities of the girls, and should any of them provo hopeless they •will be told quietly that there is not much *.iso in going on, and will droi> out of the school. After two mouths, examinations will bo held fortnightly, to keep the girls up to their worii, and at .the end of the course, the iinal examination will be held, Tho successful girls will then be permanently appointed to the-Civil Service, and will bo available ior travelers to any paic of the Canterbury district. A number already know tlio Morse code alphabet, and they will commence on the telegraphic work right away, but the others will have to learn tho alphabet first. At first there will bo a key and sender for each pupil, but later only one will- be necessary tor every two girls, as one will do the sending and the other will receive at the other end of the room. During their period of instruction tho girls will attend, the school from 9 a.m. to 12 noon, and from 1 p.m. till 4 on week days, and from. 9 a.m. noon on Saturdays. They will, curing that period, be paid, at tho rate of"£4o oer year. Air A. S. Palmer, late postmaster at Amberley, who is an expert operator, is tho instructor, and has two assistants, one lady and one male. Owing to the depletion in the ranks of telegraphists, a number ot similar schools have been started in various parts of the Dominion. , A -'iris' class with thirty-eight member; is 31 ow in oneration in Wellington, and will shortlv be followed, bv a boys' ela<«. Bovs' classes are also being carried on in Oaiua.ru and Auckland, whilo one for girls is to be started next week in Dunedin and another one shortly in Auckland.