KEEN BUT CHATTY.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 5, Issue 179, 2 June 1916, Page 3 (Supplement)

KEEN BUT CHATTY.

WOMEN MUNITION WOHKERB. The woman worker to-day is proving herself not only as competent as tJi» man she has replaced but far more reliable and stable. 1 had conclusive evidence of this % few days ago, says an English lady journalist, when I inspected a munition factory not far from London, where, out of about 1,500 ! uids employed in making shells, over two thirds were women and girls. The secret lies, ] fancy, in the natural adaptability of woman to cireumstances and the resignation with which alio accepts facts, for I was assured b.v the manager of the works that women are far more satisfactory as employees than men.

"They are,"' he said, "more contented, more amiable, and infinitely moro appreciative of our elforts i-i ensure their well-being. The only fault (if we can call it so) we have to find in them is that they are apt to attempt too much —to be over-zealous, particularly in the undertaking of strenuous labou* —which we are more than anxious to avoid. The only complaints we ever receive from them are that the hours are too short, or that the frequent 'rests' we enforce for the heavy workers arc unnecessary. We, however, are convinced that care of the woiker is a vital necessity to ensure lasting and beneficent results, and insist, for tho national good, that health and prudence shall lie our primary considerations.

" As regards the work they turn out they are splendid, and have proved in every way as efficient as their malo predcessors. Give them,'' he added, plenty of liberty to sing s.nd talk, and lot them ruin their digestions with as much tea as they care to make, and they are quite happy." And, indeed, the girls ivriainly endorsed tlie.r employer's statements, for 1 failed io find one face that was not smiling and contented. True, thero was a continual buzz of voices; but talking is a woman's privilege, and one that sue las certainly brought to a perfect state of utility, for it was plain to mar"? that tho moro he women and girls 'alked the quicker their lingers moved in unison. Long practice in the art enables a woman to chatter ceaselessly without interfering with the ]K'rformaiico of tho task in hand, whereas a man must needs have an audience to attend his slightest utterance.

Women, too, I am told, are more conscientious in their work than men (in view of the surfeit of objecting males to-day that sounds impossible!). They appear to prefer to work by tim? rather than "piece," though they realise that their earnings would be more. "If we do 'piecework,' " one of the women explained to mc, " we are liable to be tempted to turn out inferior work for the sake of the extra money we can earn."

The average factory in normal times is, to me, a depressing sight, for I cannot lay claim to that estimable feeling of keen love for work that many more worthy "than I assert they exjenence. To watch hundreds of human male beings sullenly feeding machines of apparently insatiable appetites has ever failed to inspire mc with admiration or a desire to follow' suit. The very apparent acceptance of work as a necessary evil rather has evoked a fellowfeeling of commiseration. The munition factory to-day, however, is vastly different. I was amazed when I entered the large, airy workrooms. The light blue overalls and mop caps of the busy workers lent a charm of colour and brightness. Tlie feminine atmosphere that has of necessity been introduced has transformed the "shops" into busy beehives of workers, who find infinite pleasure in their work and display an engrossing interest in their task ♦iiatis alien indeed. There is an air of satisfaction and appreciation of the opportunity to "do their bit" in aiding the production of death-dealing devices that may he the means of saving the lives of some of our brave soldiers on the battlefield of France.

The very large majority have some dear one for whose safety the are working and praying. The incentive they have before' them is life and liberty, and they enter into the somewhat monotonous*warfare with the same courageous spirit that our men evince when facing the enemy.

They are part and parcel of the great war machine. The theatre of hostilities is not confined to the scene o { action ; the hattle rages as nercely in the workshop. Ultimate success will emanate as assuredly from the industry of the munition worker as from the point of the bayonet. Ono serious difficulty the woman munition worker is facing to-day is the lack of sleeping accommodation. This, I am told, is experienced very consider, ahlv iu the more crowded manufacturing districts, whcr e the houses are small and the families large. The exceptionally increased demand for rooms has boon the means ot raising the price beyond all reason in many instances. Admitted the wages of the munition worker arc good, but is it fair tljat they should l>o obliged to pay extortionate prices for accommodation to enable them to be within access of the factories where they arc employed upon such nationally imperative work? They are Government workers as assurcdlv as our forces, and should surely share with them the convenience or obtaining shelter. If the Government would billet the workers at a reasonable and fair price it would alleviate a very serious impediment that is essentially a grave deterrent to a near victory.