PREPARING FOR THE INEVITABLE.

Taranaki Daily News, 27 November 1915, Page 4

PREPARING FOR THE INEVITABLE.

It was mentioned yesterday that the ! experiment with female labor being conducted by the Mangatoki Dairy Co. is proving a success. This will be interesting news to other factories which are faced with a shortage of labor, a shortage that must necessarily become more acute in the near future. Indeed, it is quite possible that before another year is out every eligible single man will bo called to the colors, and it is a situation which should be faced now and prepared for. Every other industry will be affected in the same way aa the dairying industry, and the matter of providing for tlio essential ones should engage the attention of those responsible. Female labor will have to be resorted to here as it is in Britain and on the Continent. If girls can do the work successfully at Mangatoki there is no reason why they should not do equally well in other cheese factories. Some of the work of a factory, of course, girls cannot be expected to undertake, but there is much that they can do just as well as men. Similarly in other departments of activity. Most of the shop work could be done by female labor, and office work could be carried on by girls, so freeing the men for military service. Employers might with advantage set about training girls now, just as Mangatoki is doing. If the war is prolonged, nothing is more certain than that the manhood of the Dominion will be called up. All non-essential industries and businesses may consequently have to suspend operations, and attention devoted to the manning of the essential ones. Employers should take time by the forelock and set about training labor in anticipation of the emergency. The labor laws could very advantageously be suspended meantime to permit of the employment of girls or boys or inefficient labor. We have to adjust ourselves to the times, which are shortly going to be extraordinarily difficult for industries and businesses, and the sooner we realise this fact and shape our plans accordingly the better it will be for everybody.