WOMEN IN INDUSTRY.

Taranaki Daily News, 31 January 1920, Page 12

WOMEN IN INDUSTRY.

ATTITUDE OF BRITISH FIRMS. j The question of Hie extent to which women may, with advantage to themselves and from the point of view of national production, be employed in industry, is raised in a report issued bv the British Women's Industrial League, whose object it is "to secure equality of treatment and opportunity for employment of women." The report, which embodies information received from over I tflO firms, covering a wide field in engineering and other trades, calls attention to the thousands of women who have be.-n turned out of these industries despite the shortage of trained labour and the necessity for increased production. A circular loiter with a qucstiouaire attached was addressed to iiOflO firms in Englaiu, Scotland, and Wales, and replies wire received from 14-22. Firms who have employed women oil the lighter processes have, says tlm report, expressed themselves, almost without exception, as being highly satisfied with their work; many state they are willing to retain some of the women, and others regret that the return of the demobilised soldiers, lack of trade, and the uncertainty of the future lias meant their dismissal. Several firms promise to reinstate the women if agreements with the Trade Unions ean be made. At the end of May, 1919, it appears that 70.700 women were employed, as against 24.5C0 before the war. A third of tin. firms who employed women for the first time during the war have been able to retain them on some processes, and r. further third would be willing to keep them on hut for the opposition to sueJi a policy. Of the firms which had. employed women in nre-ivar days, G7 i purpose to iaerease their number.