Overseas Posts For Shorthand-typists

Press, Volume C, Issue 29514, 16 May 1961, Page 2

Overseas Posts For Shorthand-typists

New Zealand shorthand-typists employed by the Public Service are now working in about 14 overseas cities. Proficient seniors have been seconded from the External Affairs Department to London, Paris, New York, Washington. San Francisco, Ottawa, Canberra, Tokyo, Bangkok, Singapore. Djakarta, Kuala Lumpur, New Delhi and Western Samoa. Senior shorthand-typists will also be sent to Geneva, when the Government opens an office there. Opportunities for overseas senice and standards required were discussed in Christchurch yesterday by Miss M. A. Fox, inspector (typists and machinists) of the Public Sen-ice Commission, Wellington.

Stenographers’ appointments are usually made for three years, except in tropical countries where the term is for two years. Many of the young women return to New Zealand to work for a time and are then re-ap-pointed to a different country for another term. During their overseas appointments they could save money and travel to other parts of the country during their annual vacations, Miss Fox said. Selection for overseas jobs is made very carefully. “We like to know something of a girl’s background and we require her to spend from 18 months to two years in the External Affairs Department in Wellington before posting, so that we can be sure she is a suitable person to represent New Zealand overseas.’’ she said. On the technical side, a minimum is required in the advanced shorthand-typists Public Service examination--130 words a minute in shorthand and 50 words a minute in typing—for overseas service. Stenographers are not usually sent overseas until 23 or 24 years of age. ALLOWANCES Accommodation is found for them. In addition to their salary (New Zealand scale) they are given a location allowance and probably a rental allowance to ensure that they can have a reasonable standard of living. The Public Service needs highly-skilled shorthand typists for many positions. Reporters come into this category. They are required

to have passed a special examination at 180 words a minute in shorthand so that they will be capable of verbatim reporting at Royal Commissions and inquiries. “Only about one in 500 shorthand typists would have the flair to reach this speed,” Miss Fox said. “Apart from technical skill she needs a very even temperament and a good general knowledge.” Reporters are required to travel within New Zealand and they must live in Wellington. Some of them have done special assignments in Samoa and Bangkok on commissions. Travel allowances are granted to them. “These girls are among the highest-paid shorthandtypists in the Public Service, but they have to work hard,” she said About 33 young women are employed in the offices of cabinet ministers as shorthand typists. They are required to do a minimum of 130 words a minute in shorthand and 50 in typing, as they are often required to take notes at deputations to ministers. RESPONSIBILITY “We are always looking for young women who are prepared to take responsibility in such jobs as shorthand-tynirt-in-charge.” she said. “These employees train others, allocate work and are required to look after the complete running of a large typing section in a department.” For one who has worked through an "in-charge” field there is the Job of supervis-

ing shorthand-typist. She is in charge of the staff throughout New Zealand in a particular Government department. She must travel from one centre to another in her work. Her duties include making sure that the typists’ sections in departmental offices are correctly organised, advising girls how they can improve their qualifications and chances for promotion, and dealing with any welfare problems. The Public Service employed about 2900 shorthandtypists and typists throughout New Zealand and of this number about 1000 were in Wellington. There were about 130 vacancies for groups in the Public Service in Wellington at the present time she said. Few vacancies existed in the smaller staffs of other districts.

“We are looking for girls willing to come to Wellington even in the basic grades—girls willing to gain the ex-

perience necessary to take cn higher graded positions of responsibility,” she said. “So many of the girls get married just when they are really qualified for promotion to top jobs." Wellington, apparently, is a shorthand-typists’ paradise at the present time. Realising that girls on lower salary scales were deterred from going to Wellington to take advantage of opportunities offering because of the higher cost of living when away from home, the Public Service had established hostels there, she said. ACCOMMODATION "Reasonable board is provided for about £3 IDs to £4 a week in the hostels,” she said. “So far we have been able to accommodate any junior girls who have come to Wellington.” Miss Fox is visiting Christchurch to conduct a short course for junior shorthandtypists. She will advise them of the opportunities available in the Public Service and give them a background idea of its various departments. Beginning as a shorthandtypist herself. Miss Fox has reached the top in her career in the Public Service. She was an associate to Judge K. G. Archer for four years in the Land Valuation Court She was shorthand-typist-in-charge at the Justice Department. Wellington, and later supervising shorthand-typist for the same department. On a special assignment she was sent to London to re-organise the typing staff in the New Zealand office. Later Miss Fox did a survey of the Police Department to see how it could employ the services of shorthandtypists and typists. She was in charge of all typing ser. vices for the Colombo Plan conference held in Wellington in 1956.