WOMEN WORKERS

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 4, Issue 178, 10 November 1941, Page 6

WOMEN WORKERS

REPLACEMENT OF MEN OFFICES AND INDUSTRY The replacement of men by -women workers has not yet gone as far in Auckland as in the last Avar, according to inquiries in the city. While the proportion of woman in most offices has increased, comparatively few have been placed in key posts since the war began. Women are now serving at men's wear counters in some department .stores, while many have been taken on by Government offices and banks. There are 190 women working at the chief post office. A new departure is their employment in the mailroom, where they are giving excellent service. At - the railway station women arc working in the reserved Seats and parcels; offices, as well as in the gardens, where two women assistants are now employed. Many offices have not yet found it necessary to engage women, although they consider the time not far distant when this will be essential. The absence of workers on territorial training in the new year and tlie calling up of married men are expected to provoke drastic reorganisation in many offices. The employment of women in industry is limited by award provisions, while in other trades, such ns carrying, there are still men cng'agfConlinivd in ivxt column)

Ed only in casual work.. However, at the State box factory at Whakarewarcwa the impossibility of replacing youths called up for service has led to the employment of anumber of Maori women previously engaged in tree planting, Recent provisions fixing special rates for women assistants in grocery stores have been availad of in some shops, particularly in the country. However, an executive of one firm said that the firm's experience had been that where women were employed there was a drop in business. This Avas attributed to the fact that Avomen shoppers did not like disclosing to these of their own sex the class of groceries they fipught, preferring to buy from men.