554 TRANSACTIONS OP SECTION F. 



Objections put forward by Emiiloyers. 



(1) A large proportion of leather tanning and dressing unsuitable for women. 



(2) Difficulty in finding town girls who have the physique for the rougher 

 kind of work which (even in the lighter branches) requires a certain amount of 

 hard manual labour. 



(3) Lack of accommodation. 



(4) Difficulties in working overtime, permission only being granted when 

 working on War contracts. 



Objections from tlie Men. 

 This seems to be a serious point, and various opinions are put forward : 



(a) Some employers say they cannot risk friction with the men now owing to 

 the impnesibility of replacing them. 



{b) Others say that the present would be a good time for introducing women, 

 as there is likely to be less objection than in normal times. Once women were 

 admitted the difficulties after the War would not be so great. 



(c) The opinion is also expressed that there is not yet sufficient shortage of 

 male labour; employers put off the introduction of women as long as possible, and 

 the men will keep up the objections until the time comes when one process is 

 actually held up for want of labour in the preceding process. 



{(1) Mixing male and female labour in the same factory. 



Previous Employment. 



So far, of the women introduced most were not in the leather trade before, 

 about half were from various trades, some were not previously in industry, a 

 few from domestic service. Mostly women aged 18-30. 



Question of Permanence. 



In this branch of the leather trade those few firms that have introduced 

 female labour since the War are inclined to think the employment will be per- 

 manent. 



The following opinions are given : * 



(1) Although the men who have joined the Forces will be re-engaged after 

 the War, it does not follow that they will in every case be employed on the 

 same work, i.e., the women may not be pushed out of their present jobs, and 

 possibly the present indifferent workers, both male and female, will be dis- 

 missed, and thus room made both for the good female workers at present 

 employed and the men returning. 



(2) If women once get installed in this branch of the trade it may be an 

 economy to keep them after the War (even if it is not now, owing to the com- 

 paratively high wages they can now command). 



(3) The percentage of men returning will, in all probability, be small. 



(4) The slump in the trade may not be as great as is generally expected, 

 especially not in this branch, on which the boot trade depends. As many 

 firms are exclusively working for the Government the reserve stock of boots and 

 shoes is gradually being depleted, and will be very low at the end of the War, 

 and will need replenishing as soon as possible, i.e., there may be more work 

 available than is expected (after the War), and therefore perhaps no real reason 

 why there should not be some permanent scope for women once they get into 

 the trade. 



(5) Plenty of work available for men and women too, after the War, if only 

 cheap German goods were excluded by tariff. 



Some firms in the heavy branches are experiencing a severe shortage of 

 labour, and would be only too glad if women were physically capable of doing 

 the work, e.g., one firm has lost 30 per cent, of its men. It is heavy, dirty 

 work, i.e., tanners and curriers, and the men have gone (not only owing to 

 enlistment) but also owing to the increased volume of employment available, 

 which tempts them to leave dirty work if they can find clean. An isolated firm 



