WOMAN ENGINEERS

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 103, 24 January 1918, Page 2

WOMAN ENGINEERS

TRAINING FOE PERMANENT SITUATIONS. The "learned professions" have opened their doors wide for educated women, but in the greatest industry oi : all--engineering—there are lew opportunities, "Enigeering" snys, for the hopes of engineering students reaching lull fruition. The invasion of women inio the munition factories has proved that their sex is no disability to their proi secution of work of a highly-skilled nature, but many ladies wlio have gained mi intimate knowledge of difficult and delicate operations look forward to the termination of the war as likely to put a final stop to their aspirations. One of the- great captains ot industry in Scotland lias specially organised ami equipped an engineering factory for tho employment exclusively of educated women of good social standing, and in contradistinction to the woman factory worker, and with the fixed determination to carry on operations permanently under those conditions. The work is managed by women, the head is a "Girton girl," with those characteristics which are desirable for guiding and stimulating tho girl students to success. Indeed, the factory has some of the salient features of a technical college, combined with practical work iu tha factory, which gives that stimulus to study not realisable in the laboratory of a college. Tho factory is situated in tho south of Scotland, in what may be fitly called "God's- country," because of the variety and beautj of the scenery, so that the students of botany and of wild life generally can I liavo full opportunity lor pursuing their hobby..The factory itselt, standing on tho hillside, has glazed walls, su , liiit there is an abuudanco of natural light, and everything is done to make I it attractive to the feminine eyo and i Mind. All the accessories which are ! now placed under the wide term "wel- i iaro" have heen adopted to tho fullest J i extent, and all the women sit down to ! thoir meals in admirably arranged quar- j ! i«ia. The lecture room at the works: constitutes an important element in I the organisation. There, at stated i hours, highly-trained lecturers conduct j classes which artv compulsory, for tho I student's, and a regular curriculum has j beon arranged, so that the students of,; each grade become thoroughly conver- j eant with , the machines they are oner- j ating and with the work they are ox-1 eeuiing. The entrants to the works, j wiio umy bo of any ;<ge, although from j 20 to 30 years aro the preferable limits, j roceive during what is termed tho probationary period :20s. per week, .but this period extends only for six weeks. They have then to decide whether or not they intend to pursue the engineering c&reer. If such is tho case, I and they are considered suitable cant didates, an agreement is entered into, and the wages at once become 2os. per week until the first technical examination. This examination is comparatively simple to those who have entered the works with some knowledge of mechanics, have been punctual, careful, ano observant at their work, and have applied themselves with diligence to the lectures. According to the •quality ol' the work at this examination and tho marks received in the factory, the student's wage will be increased by os. per week. Each six months there are examinations for each grade of student. The examinations are graded, and each "pass' , means an increase oi os. lu addition to the iectuiw there are instructors in the shops, and as soon as the student shows a proficiency in the simpler machines or in the simpier operations, she is at once advanced to work of a more intricate iiiid exacting character.

The Misses Daniel (Masterton) are visiting Wellington.

The Victoria League is holding a conference the second week in March in Christchurch, to which delegates from every centre in New Zealand are invited. The objects of the conference lire for discussing tho work done at (each centre, and also for the purpose of gaining closer co-operation.