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Hokitika Guardian, 4 July 1932, Page 4

It would be interesting to know how much the increasing number of women noiv being employed in industry is affecting the employ ritent of our male population, .remarks/the “N.Z. National i,'Re view.” In the (census return, 1926, it is stated:/“In the last th : rty years the number' of women in industry lias shown an almost continuous expansion, recording an increase between -1896 and 926 of over/130 par cent. The absorption of women has proceeded' at- a-somewhat greater rate than that of meru We have no means of ascertaining the incrense since 1926, as the Government postponed the taking of the, census in 1931. The action of the Government in doing so has been, severely "criticised- by industrialists as jfalse economy. The departure from the quinquennia.] system makes/'comparisons more difficult, and delays ,the'receipt of much needed statistical information, more valuable in times of depression than in times of prosperity. It is generally concealed, however, that the continuous expansion of! femall'e employment in industry mentioned‘ in the last census returns has been greater in recent years. If this is so it -accounts for a great deal of the male unemployment. Tajiing the proportionate increase from 1896 to 1926 the present-day figure!!, would be 21,600, As it is conceded, however', that the increase has beer greater in recent years, from 25,C00 to 30,000 would bp nearer the mark. In,the industrial groups which cover factories where women are largely employed: on women’s work the number employed has remained practically stationary, which shows that the increased numl/er of Women now employed in industry has been the means of displacing, many male workers.