News in Brief

Star (Christchurch), Volume XLIV, Issue 490, 27 June 1932, Page 6

News in Brief

Men as Shorthand-typists. Much has been heard recently about the relative merits of men and women as short-hand-typists. In view of the accentuation of the unemployment problem, it has been urged in some quarters that men should have preference when vacancies for such positions are being filled. It is perhaps symptomatic of the times that a large mercantile firm in Auckland, in advertising for a competent shorthand-typist, stipulates that “ males only need apply.” The Wages Issue. “ I have always been a Labour advocate, and it breaks my heart to-night to discuss the reduction of wages. But should six or seven men be considered before the big body of the ratepayers, who in many instances have suffered drastic cuts?” In that vein a councillor at the Port Chalmers Council meeting spoke to a motion which meant a reduction of wages and salaries for the council’s employees, who, it was stated, had not yet had any cut. The council, after a very lengthy discussion, decided to reduce salaries by £25, to put off two men, and to ration the balance of the men to five days per week. First Impressions of Parliament. Mr F. W. Schramm, the member for Auckland East, was in humorous vein at a recent meeting, when describing his first impressions of the House of Representatives. “ When I first entered the House I met one or two Labour members,” he said, “ and I asked them which way to go. * First door on the left,’ said one. I went on, and you can imagine my surprise when I found it led me to the Legislative Council. (Laughter.) That was not the only surprise I received. I found that the proceedings are commenced every day by prayer. 'Hiat is all very well, but it comes as a bit of a shock when, immediately afterwards, we proceeded to get into it 1 donkey deep.’ ” (More laughter.) “It’s a most remarkable place,” added the speaker. “ You can be as nasty as you like, but you have to be very polite about it all the time.”