The Dominion THURSDAY, AUGUST 6, 1942. WORK FOR WOMEN

Dominion, Volume 35, Issue 264, 6 August 1942, Page 4

The Dominion THURSDAY, AUGUST 6, 1942. WORK FOR WOMEN

It would appear that the national scheme under which young women are being directed into essential mdustiies lias iiot extended/ far bevond the transfer of skilled, experienced woikeis fiom one industry to .another, this is indicated in the announcement by the Minister of Industrial Manpower, Mr. McLagan, on Monday that women in the 22-23 age group arc now required to register, with a view to being directed to essential work. He explained that a large number of younger girls, previously registered, had not been called on because "some difficulty had arisen in finding sufficient girls with particular types of skill, or living in particular localities where they were wanted.” These difficulties, he pointed out, would be largely overcome by increasing the size of the pool from which girls could be selected. The residential difficulty referred to by the Minister is an obvious one. If in a particular district there are too few younger girls to meet local industrial needs, the selection of personnel from the next ao-e-group becomes inevitable. At the same time it is to be inferred that the general plan, thus far, has been to pass over those younger girls who are not already experienced industrial workers—girls who, as the Minister says, lack “particular types of skill.” No doubt this policy is dictated by present expediency, for the urgent need is to maintain essential production, and experienced hands can master new jobs more easily. But in view of the national labour outlook it may soon become necessary to carry the scheme further. Hie need may arise to enlist the services of the remaining younger girls, who are physically fit for industrial work, yet not engaged m essential'duties of one kind or another. ... For certain classes of work in a number of essential industries, previous factory experience, or specialized preparatory training, is surely not altogether necessary. In Britain thousands of young women from all walks of life have stepped into industry and have acquired the needed skill while actually at work. In this country, also, young women, after brief coaching, have. overcome the handicap of inexperience in many new avenues of service.. The capable manner in which some are undertaking special duties in the. artned.forces should encourage faith in the aptitude of other unskilled git s foi industrial work. If they are given early opportunity to show what they can do. it may be fcund feasible to postpone the transfer from one industry to another—or from domestic life into industry—of women in still higher age groups. In general, women in the higherage groups have more settled responsibilities, and their transfer would in consequence be more disruptive to the community. . In the case of industrial work for which initial skill is required, some system of training for young women, similar to that established for men, might be a logical and, indeed, a necessary development. These trainees could at first be recruited from members of the lowerage group who have so far been passed over. In. the meantime it would be helpful if the Minister could give the public a more detailed explanation of the method of selection so far followed among the younger girls. This would be of value to both parents and the girls themselves, and perhaps also to the authorities. Many a young woman, overlooked on grounds of inexperience, may possess a natural aptitude which could—and should—be employed, without delay or the necessity for preparatory training, in some essential productive task. ■