Many young women seek work
"Necessity is driving girls to go to work," said the manager of a large drapery establishment, when questioned yesterday by a Daily Times reporter regarding the shortage of positions for girls. "In my opinion," he said, ‘‘the present high cost of living is forcing parents, particularly those who have several daughters, to seek suitable employment for them. It is an absolute necessity that they go to work, and drapers shops are an attraction, and the discount to employees enables them to dress well and more cheaply, which is a big thing these days. I do not think there are many girls who go to work in order to be independent of their parents for dress. It is the practice of this firm to give preference to girls who have to earn a living, and not to those whose parents are able to support them, and who usually go to work purely for the fun of it." Questioned as to the applications for work, the manager replied that there was a constant demand for employment, and that his hardest job was to refuse the services offered. This was unfortunate for the girls’ mothers, who, in a number of cases, were faced with the problem of placing two or even three daughters in business. Turning to a file, the speaker produced a sheaf of applications which had accumulated during the past few months. "Here are about 60 more," he added, pointing to a tray on his desk. "The position has become acute. We have had to close our lists, and another large Dunedin shop has had to do the same. Of course,’’ he added, "several of these girls have secured employment by this time, but the demand for work still continues. The same applies to milliners and dressmakers — the supply is greater than the demand.’’
Support for funerary alternative
To the editor: Sir, I understand the City Council, in response to the petition of some hundreds of our citizens, has agreed to establishing a crematorium if the society will contribute £500 towards the cost. It now remains for those interested to support the local committee in its efforts to raise this sum, and thus hasten the day when we shall have an up-to-date crematorium in this city, and let us not be the back number our northern friends would try to make out. — I am, etc, W.D. Anderson
Only 187 hours from London
The commercial uses of airships were discussed by Commander C.D. Burney, in a paper read to the London Congress of the Institute of Transport. He pointed out that if they were accepted by the public as the safest, as well as the quickest, means of travelling there was little doubt that ample traffic would be forthcoming. The London-India-Australia route appeared to hold out the prospects of financial success. A yearly number of passengers of 5900 each way would be required to fill vessels to 50 percent of their capacity. Upon that basis the following charges had been adopted for purposes of estimating upon the route: England to Bagdad, £50 first class; Colombo, £100; Perth (Australia), £140; and Wellington (New Zealand), £170. A surcharge of 4d per letter was contemplated, and it was estimated that a total revenue of £1,775,000 would be obtained upon the route, equivalent to a gross profit of £89,000. The time of transport had been estimated as follows: England to Bagdad, 57 hours; Bagdad to Colombo, 41 hours: Colombo to Perth, 51 hours; Perth to Wellington, 38 hours. — by ODT London correspondent — ODT, 25.6.25.
Compiled by Peter Dowden
