GIRL WORKERS.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10250, 29 May 1911, Page 4

GIRL WORKERS.

Inquiries made in Qhristchur-dh by the Lyttelton Times confirm, to some extent, tihe recent report in .the Labour Department's, monthly journal that there is a shortage of g|irl labour in dressmaking and other brajurihes of tihe drapery .trade. A firm wihicth employs several hundred girls, and which claim/s that it pays tlhe iiigfest wages in New Zearland, ihas found, a.good deal of difficulty. in obtaining (sufficient .hands during the past twelve months. There are ajnpte supplies for positions .behind t'he counters, but the workrooms, especially where dresses and hats are made, seem to offer few ait/tractions to young girls.. The. prejudice, apparently, arises from the vagaries of femininity's fancy. The workshops offer good pay, regular hours and good conditions. A girl can start-in a workroom wttiem she is about sixteen years of age, and earn ajbout £1 when ®he is twemty years, with substantial increases after tihat. She works from tier, to nine in _tihe morning until six at night, is paid OTertime 'and has a half-lioliday every Saturday, which is regarded by most girls .as the best holiday day in the week. Tihis firm at the .present time could fincl work for aibout fifty girls in its workrooms if i'hey came forward.