OFFICE OR HOME ?

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXIII, 31 July 1929, Page 7

OFFICE OR HOME ?

DEMAND FOR DOMESTICS UNQUALIFIED TYPISTS Reports concerning much unemployment, among women typists and clerks apparently need to be qualified. Mr, A. J. Hutchinson informed an Auckland "Star" reporter last week that out of a commercial school of 250 only two were not, in positions, and that was because they were not suitable. "Tlio trouble is that I don't know where to turn for girls," said Mr 'Hutchinson. "We can place all qualified girls wc have got, and want more. Wo do not consider u girl is qualified until she can do shorthand at the rate of 100 wovds a minute*. The girls who cannot find positions are probably those who are not qualified. At least, that is our experience. Some girls are quite unsuitcd for oflice work; no amount of training would ever make them qualified : and it is probably that type of girl who is out of work, if there is any marked amount of unemployment."

Miss Jean Begg, secretary of the Young Women's Christian'. Association, said a good many typists came to the rooms looking for employment of late. From what they said she understood that in a number of business places the staff was being reduced, and one girl now had to do work that was formerly done by two girls. It was always a relief to the officials of the association when the girls looking for positions said they were willing to take domestic service. There was no difficulty in placing a girl' in domestic service, and in eight cases out of ten the result was satisfactory both to the girl and the mistress. The old days when domestic. service was so uncongenial, not to say slavery,' had gone and to-day domestic service was quite a pleasant way for a. girl to earn her own living. Miss Begg thought it a pity more girls dfd not go in for domestic service. Her experience was that there was apparently difficulty at present iii placing typists, whereas there was quite a demand for girls for domestic duties. Ifc seemed that as soon as a girl went to a secondary school that was the end of it as far as ever taking up domestic service was concerned.