UNSKILLED OFFICE GIRLS

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 153, 18 March 1918, Page 3

UNSKILLED OFFICE GIRLS

WARNING TO EMPLOYEES. The intelligence of women is an accepted fact no longer needing emphasis, but tho first pleasant surprise felt by men in offices that feminine substitutes did not make a complete- nrall of tho work is changing to discrimination between tlio stop-gap who gets through by happy'chance and the reliable assistant who succeeds because sho "knows bow."

Some oniployers, including Departmental chiefs, are therefore looking out not merely for workers but for oipablo and efficient workers whose intelligence has made them train for tho job before taking it on.

Capability is educated capacity and officiency is experienced capability, and both of'fliese are attained by only one factor—training. ' A girl with a charming face and manner may prove these to be an asset if her duties include tlio reception of callers; but it is a mistake for young women under twenty to be in charge of correspondence, qualification-filing, investigatory dealings, or any section of work beyond mcro mechanism.

Take it that she lias to evolve a courteous definite letter .out of a few slforthand notes dictated rapidly by her ! chief, or use her judgment in any fashion, with only a general rule to go upon—is it likely that her worldly knowledge and practice in handling; public affairs arc sufficient to ensure her action boinct advantageous to business? Often she does not even know how to address people properly. • The yahio of one method over another, the individual interests bound up in collective summaries, the- moral and social ethics that affect certain cases, are all dead letters to her. How can it be otherwise? She is unconscious that anything matters except getting hoi , work done in regulation hours and keeping complaints of it from the notice of those over her. She may seem to. her employer an unqualified success—for a time; her errors themselves fending off from him tedious incidental problems that ho is glad to : bo rid of. But later, trouble ensues, leading to disparagement of women in general, instead of realisation that it is lack of gumption iu having selected one on her face .merits alone. She is a tyro, and one does not blame her for it, because she is too young to be otherwise, and only junior and non-responsible posts should be given to her until time and training qualify' her for higher grades. After thorough preparation at some centre whero a standard is set up and details are not slurred over, she may cope with a thousand things not specially scheduled, in the light of applied common sense and reflected wisdom acquired during hor training. If a man takes a lad as clerk or junior he superintends him or lets somcono more experienced. do so, but ho accepts a girl's own assurance that she can do the work, resents adverpe criticism as jealousy., makes it a matter of personal annoyance, and spoils tho girl's chance of improving. When a flood of these untrained workors is released after the. war it will be unsatisfactory for everyone concorned.

The girl who has earned an income so easily will not caro to start at the beginning; equally she will nofc want to be idle.

Tho important moment is now, while still there are posts open for all, and ■it rests with tho men at the head of offices—Government or general—to appoint properly-trained applicants and to bo chary of entrusting work that needs care and thought to young amateurs who have : not yet learned tho right to bo called professional workers.—By Beatrice Heron-Maxwell, in the "Daily Mail."

. 'At St. Paul's, Knightsbridge, a few days ago, states a London correspondent' of January 22, tho wedding took place of Lieutenant tho Earl of Carlisle and Miss B. H. Ruthven, daughter of the Master of Ruthven, and the Hon. Mrs. Ruthven. 'flip cetemony was performed by the Bishop of dxford, uncle of the bride, assisted by the Rev. Canon Sheppard, D.D.,/SubDean of tho Chapel Royal. Tho Earl of Carlisle was on board H.M.S. New Zealand as sub-lioutenant at the time she made her world tour. In July, 19J5, he was transferred to H.M.S. forester. A great many friends of both families were present at tho ceremony, and men from tho ship in which the bridegroom served at the battle of Jutland formed a guard of honour as tho bridal party left tho church.