TO RELIEVE SOLDIERS

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2531, 4 August 1915, Page 8

TO RELIEVE SOLDIERS

WORK FOR WOMEN

OPENINGS THAT MAY BE MADE

A readjustment of labour conditions and tho employment of greater numbers of women workers has been one of tho immediate results of tho war in the European countries engaged. In New Zealand up to date tho withdrawal of large bodies of men from the different industries has not had tho effect of greatly increasing the number of females employed, but there is the possibility that in tho near future more and more women workers will be required to fill the places of men during tho absence of the latter. Iu various towns in England women have been successfully employed as tram conductors, railway porters, etc., in addition to lighter work. While this does not appear to bo necessary in New Zealand yet, there are numerous openings which could bo made for female workers, in order to allow tho males to do a greater work in lighting for their' country—shop assistants, and many clerical male workers particularly could be'replaced by women as tho needs arise. •

In some of the largo department stores in Wellington, so a roporter was informed, thero has been no difficulty up to the present in replacing male employees, but it is apparent that if recruiting is to go on, and if reinforcement drafts aro increased, many more employees ivill leave, ■ and it may then beconio necessary to fill their places with women. Already, during the big winter sales, men have had- to be taken from some of tlio light men's departments, and put into the heavier departments, while women havo taken on' the lighter work. Tho managers of 1 the big drapery houses admit that in a good many departments women could temporarily replace men.

Tho question naturally asked by tlio employee is: Will the women be kept on i'n those departments after the war? Questioned on this point, several of the big drapers said that. they had promised to keep positions open for all men who enlisted, and they had no intention of attempting to permanently replace men by employing women. In the drapery trade tho Arbitration Act protects the men workers to a certain extent, for the existing award of tho Wellington Soft Goods Employees' Union specifies certain departments in which women have to bo paid an increase of 50 per cent, on their wages when employed in those departments. They are the dress departments, men's clothing department, etc.

The Question of Wages.

The question of what wages shall be paid women workers replacing inen— whether the'award rate for men, or a lower rate prescribed by tho Courtwill bo one of tho questions that will have to be decided before largo numbers of women workers are taken on. A precedent has been established in Victoria for certain work, for the Court t has awarded tho same rate to men and women when .doing the same work. This important question: may arise at a dtting of tho Arbitration Court in Wellington next week, for the Soft Goods' Employees' _ Union havo a case before the Court, in which they aro asking, in addition to an all-round increaso on the present rate of pay, for the following clauso:—"Any female employed soiling or handling the following goods shall be paid the wages prescribed for males: Men's clothing, men's mercery and hats, silks, velveteens,, dresses, lilanchester, furnishing, drapery, carpets, linos, bedding, or cotton dress goods, prints, etc." In ithose departments that sell dress goods, silks, and velveteens, etc., tho employers say that they could utilise women when the men havo gone to tho front, so if the Court grants the clauso a man's wage would have to be paid, unless any special provision was made to deal with exceptional circumstances. In some awards, tho grocers', for instance, no mention is made or female employees, but if the position got acute women could replace men to a largo extent in this work. There are awards, too, where it is stipulated that women shall,mot be employed, but tho cases are not many.

At Harvest Time. It is anticipated that there is likely to bo some-difficulty in getting sufficient labour to gather 1 in this year's harvest in New Zealand, because so many country workers have gone with tho Expeditionary Forces. The harvest work, as it is carried on in New Zealand by the uso of harvesting - machines, does not permit of women's labour being employed to any large '■ extent, but ■ a ■ certain amount could be done by women workers, especially in tho cooking line.' Then, too, women workers have been found to give great success in the hop fields of Nelson, so that it is apparent that they would soon drop into the way of doing heavier work on the farms if tho scarcity of labour is likely to lead to any decrease in production. There are* many other walks of life in which men have predominated in tho past but which could bo temporarily filled by women, and the' suggestion has been made in Wellington that employers could form a committee whereby it could be deckled which openings could be filled by them. The teaching profession is ono that has been affected greatly by tho war, and so many male teachers have either left for the front or are in training that Education Boards right throughout New Zealand arc finding difficulty. in getting a sufficiency of malo teachers. This naturally means that more foinalo assistants will, have to bo drafted into the schools. The supply is not equal to the demand, and this, ib is stated, will probably mean that girls will be allowed out from tho Training Colleges before tho full term usually put in,by them has been completed.

Some Oponings for Women. Amongst the many trades and industries of the Dominion, competent authorities have selected the appended list in -which women might at least in part replace men for a temporary period. Tlio figures are given of tlio number of males at present employed, according to the last census returns. Clerical occupations are not included: — Elevator ' at- Houso sertendants ... 29 vants 604 Restaurant Drapers' asservants ... 107 sistants ... 3429 Hotel cooks Laundry and servants 2036 workers ... 458 Mercers 224 Postal clerks Letter-carriers 485 . and sorters 1235 School Ships' stewteachers ... 2091 ards 1026 Bottlcwashers 43 BasketBakers, etc. 2170 workers ... 168 Bee-keepers... 109 MattressWoollen- makers ... 481. carders ... 41 Bruslimakers . 115 Church care- Candle and takers, etc. CO soap makers 197 Confectionery- Club stewards, makers 283 etc 259 Greengrocers, Cordial etc 709 makers ... 260 Various pnekers Lodginghouse(about) 400 keepers ... 649 Watchmen ... 283 Music teachers 267 Lodginghouso servants ... 450