WOMEN’S CAREER “A FINE IDEA”

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31083, 11 June 1966, Page 2

WOMEN’S CAREER “A FINE IDEA”

When Mrs L. A. Mansell accepted the position of secretary at the Wheat Research Institute in Christchurch she saw the job as an opportunity to do her “bit” during the war years.

Now that her retirement 24 years later is imminent, Mrs Mansell is giving up her fulltime career with mixed feelings. She has found the work and companionship stimulating and considers a career for women “a fine idea.” "A career gives a woman a chance to be herself—to develop her personality. It also must make her more interesting to her family and it keeps her young,” Mrs Mansell said.

"I think it’s wrong for mothers to leave small children, but once they are off her hands an outside Interest is very good for her. “Women in New Zealand have been wary about coming forward, and, after all, we should not be second-class citizens.”

A graduate of Canterbury University, Mrs Mansell has a B.A. in history and a Diploma in Journalism. Before her marriage she worked at the Christchurch “Sun.”

“Training for a career is a splendid thing and women should further their education even if they intend to marry and leave the job. In my day, of course, few girls went to university and married women stayed home,” she said. During her years at the Wheat Research Institute Mrs Mansell said she met many charming young people. Music and cats are Mrs Mansell’s hobbies. Although

she calls her musical study “very amateur” she enjoys playing the piano and is looking forward to “shaking the moths out it” when she leaves the institute on June 22. Cedric, the Mansell’s reel-

dent pussy, is an “ordinary tab., but a spoilt and adorable animal.” He is on his dignity at present, for two stray cats have invaded his home. “We hadn’t the heart to turn them away and now the meat bill is astronomical. I call them amusement tax because I have such a lot of fun watching them,” she said. “Cedric, however, is not amused.”

Gardening will also help fill in the days which Mrs Mansell thinks will be strangely empty at first She plans to “put my feet up” for three months, then set about building up new leisure-time interests.

“One thing I have learnt having a job is that every moment counts in an office and you have to be organised. Women who have been used to working organise themselves better at home too," she said.