GIRLS IN OFFICES

Evening Post, Volume XCVII, Issue 131, 5 June 1919, Page 7

GIRLS IN OFFICES

MANY GIVING UP THEIR

POSITIONS

EMPLOYERS' ASSURANCES,

(EI TELEGRAPH.—SPECIAL TO THE POST.)

AUCKLAND, This Day

Inquiries made in Auckland regarding the matter of the retention of girls, and women in positions formerly occupied by men who went to the war show that since the beginning of the war a total of about fort}' girls had„been employed in various branches of the Chief Post Office. In every case the position was a, temporary one, pending tlie return of employees from-the war. Now that, the men are beginning to resume work the girls are giving, up their positions. Seven loft the Post Office last Saturday, making 'a total of. about 20 who had made way for returning men. It sis antici-. pat?d that practically all temporary help will have lefLthe Service'in about four months' time. The Department is doing all in its power to facilitate the soldier's return to work. Many men not formerly on the staff'have besn employ-, ed, numbering 40 .hi one department alone, the letter-carriers' division. The total number of returned men in all departments- not previously, employed .by the department is 60. v '

Managers of hanks and. office's have given assurance that, although girls had been largely employed, hot one of them would be retained when the original occupiers of their positions returned. This did not necessarily, mean that all the girls would be. thrown' out of employment, as the increase in business would make it necessary that tho services of really competent workers should be retained.

"There is no need fpr the soldiers to worry about bur keeping girls on too lorig'," saict the manager of one of the leading banks" "They are, leaving faster than we want as it is. Domestic arrangements and home ties have already: taken a considerable number, including several soldiers' wives whose husbands, have returned." " r

The managers of other offices, m interviews, repeated the assurance that all girls who had', undertaken the work of men on sorviqe fully understood that the positions were only temporary." "In any case," said one, "I think both sides should be considered .in this matter of the employment of girls. Of course, it goes without saying that the men should all be reinstated in their old positions, but, apart from that, tho whole' question should;- also be looked at from tho women's -viewpoint. Many of them have lost husbands and sons- still'more have lost men' who 'were to have been r.ieir lvnshands. and provided them with home ties. Thousands of girls will have to earn their living in the years' to comb who in the ordinary-'course'of events would ■ ljjive become wives and' mothers.. They have now nothing to look forward to but such a future as they call make for themselves hy their own work. Many of them have, already made groat sacrifices, and it seems rather hard that there should be so much resentment aga.inst their retention in business positions.