GIRL TELEPHONISTS.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1091, 1 April 1911, Page 11

GIRL TELEPHONISTS.

Some time ago it was found by tho ■, Sydney postal authorities that the ex- ' panding telephone service could not ob- ' tain sufficient male telephonists (says the J "Sydney Morning Herald"). It was decided to adopt tho policy followed in Melbourne and Sydney, and employ girls. ( Tho few months' trial of girl telephonists at the G.P.O. Exchange has proved J successful. Mr. Young,' the Deputy Postmaster-General, in discussing the ' matter recently, said there was no cvi- 1 deuce that the boys were better than girls, or that the girls were better than , the boys. There were efficient and ,not bo efficient of both sexes. The'system was ' not long enough in forco to determine ' whether tho girls were physically capable ' of enduring the' continuous work as well as boys. What was being done was to ascertain what the girls were really capable of, and work them to suit their capabilities. The change from male to female telephonists at Glebo and William Street Evcnanges was nlong the lines of tho policy of the Department. It was not caused by any suddenly developed shortage of male labour, but tho females were installed because the new exchanges at both pi ices were fitted to enable them to be employed. They could not have been accommodated in the old exchanges just vacated.