WORK FOR NEW ZEALAND WOMEN

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3059, 21 April 1917, Page 4

WORK FOR NEW ZEALAND WOMEN

CHAMBER OP COMMERCE .' ■ REPORT. "It will be. interesting to learn to' what extent it will bo found possible to employ women in New Zealand (states the committee of the Wellington Chamber of Commerce in its annual report). -In England and on tho Continentthe employment of women, and their peculiar efficiency in .: various classes of employment,' has hoen one of the outstanding .features of the war period.- An English writer in an article, (An Unrealised National Asset/ states: — ■■ .

• "'The biggest factor .in the present economic situation is undoubtedly the fact that hundreds of thousands ■ of women in. all classes, and grades of society have found work into which they can. put their best that not only creates an absorbing interest, and proves in many instances the best antidote for carking care, or broken heart, or financial Joss, but is also proving of. invaluahle service to the.State. In the process. woman's right, place'in the world's work .has been won without violence; the-victory is on that account all the more pronounced, and will certainly be ,mqro. lastiug. What leaders and visionaries havo for years fought and prayed for has inevitably come at last. Woman is not now merely tolerated in assuperr r cilious and superior, sort of way, Dut is at the moment indispensable, and in many respects is proving so "fit for tho job", that her future place in the economic life and work of the nation is assured, , .' '

/"In the city the shortage of men labour in business circles has necessitated the employment of a great number of young women in clerical worfc There must be employed in Wellington t<>day_ in Government Departments, in financial institutions, and in business houses,/several hundreds of. " young womon. Many commercial; houees which previously had never employed' women labour now realise that women, are particularly " suited for certain classes'of work, but there is little doubt that after, the war this employment is likely to'coiitinuo." /

On Wednesday afternoon, at the invitation of Mrs. Bright, South Road, members of tho Hawora branch of the Plunket Society met at hor residence for tho purpose of saying good-bye to Mrs. Kemp (late treasurer of the society), prior -to' her leaving for New Plymouth. On bohalf of the members the president (Mrs. Blamiros) presented Mrs. Kemp ivith an aftoruobn 'tea servico, as. a slight token of the osteeni in which she was held. ' Mrs. Bright was heartily thanked for throwing her houso open for tho occasion. A meeting of women, only will bo held in the Concort Chamber on Monday, April 23, at 3 p.m., to consider serious social problems. The speakers will be Mrs. Lee Cowio (Invercargill), Mrs. Adjutant Glover, and others. A collection will bo takon in aid of the Citizens' Fund for tho boys at the front. ■