WOMEN IN THE CUSTOMS.

Star (Christchurch), Volume XLIV, Issue 494, 1 July 1932, Page 9

WOMEN IN THE CUSTOMS.

A Viewpoint that Could be

Considered. THE DRESS EXPERT QUESTION. Another injustice to women was brought to light recently in the “ London Star.” “ Why. no women customs officers?” a woman traveller demanded. “ Must women for ever suffer the clumsy examination of men at the ports? “What do men know about dresses? Women officials would be able to judge better and more quickly, and in addition they would fold the things in the proper creases.” And so on and so forth. When I showed this complaint to a retired Customs salt (writes a “Star” reporter) he read it slowly and then laughed shortly. Men Are Best Experts. “ You might as well talk about women sailors,” he said. “ Life is complicated enough for a revenue man, but how you are going to manage it with women aboard beats me. “ Port duty is only a part of our job, but even at the ports hours are irregular, and it is not very pleasant for a man to turn out at two or three on a winter’s morning.” As to women knowing more about dresses, this Customs man begged leave to laugh once more. “ The best dress experts are men," he said, “ and we are all experts. When the lady says ‘No’ and we say ‘Yes' we are always right. “In fact, we undervalue, and when there is a dispute we can always get a higher ruling. As to searching, that is always done by a woman.” Weather-beaten Horde. Thinking more deeply on the matter, this veteran ceased to be amused, and fell a prey to gentle melancholy. He abjured me to think of a handful of Customs women faced by a horde of weather-beaten voyagers, several hours overdue, and ready to devour anything that stands between them and the boat-train. When I had finished thinking about that he asked me to ponder on another question. “ Does one woman like to be cross-examined by another?” Might Lead to Fights. In his own considered view she does not. Faced by a suspicious question from one of her own sex every properly constituted woman traveller would immediately think that the questioning one wanted to try on the disputed frock for herself. At present she has a chance of throwing herself on the mercy of a man, but this technique would be denied her. Instead of tears and protestations of ignorance in the opinion of this expert there would be hand-to-hand fighting every time a boat came in.