§ 68. Captain ERSKINE-BOLSTasked the Postmaster-General what grounds have been advanced by female telephonists for declining to work until 11 p.m., in view of the recent Whitley Council agreed pronouncement in favour of equality of opportunity for both sexes in the service?
§ The POSTMASTER-GENERAL (Sir Kingsley Wood)Apprehensions have been expressed on various grounds which I am endeavouring to expel as quickly as possible by explaining that the operators are not required to perform late duty more frequently than one week in four, that the great majority of late duties will terminate not later than 10.30 p.m., and that no male operator whose principal earnings are secured from his telephone work will be affected. The new system is already in operation in six exchanges in London, and other exchanges will be similarly provided as soon as suitable arrangements can be made.
Viscountess ASTORIs the Government aware that it is because the women organised with the men that the men are using them?
§ Sir K. WOODNo. The reason for the new system is the superiority of the women telephone operators.
Viscountess ASTORI quite agree, but does not that show that, when the women are superior to the men, the men get the women to organise with them and then use the women?