Page:The Economic Journal Volume 1.djvu/672

 65O THE ECONOMIC JOURNAL In the ledger work, on which both men and women are still em- ployed, the women are said to do the work 'm. uch better, more carefully, more neatly; they are more conscientious, and perhaps too rigidly stick to rules and regulations, not exercising discretion.' It has often been stated that they make fewer mistakes. But, as the following table shows, they receive much lower salaries. Salaries of Clerks in the General Post Oce. Men. Women. Clerical Staff.. I Second Division Lower I i Grade ..... 70 to 250 Second Class65 to 80 Superior Clerical  Second Division Higher t Grade ..... 250 to 350 First Class 85 to 110 S ' 'mj Staff ........ erms ........ $10 to 500. . . 120 to 200 Heads of Departments ........... 625 to 900 ...... 215 to 400 The comparison of salaries is fairest in the lower grades; the work of the Heads of Departments cannot be compared. Both here and in the Prudential Insurance Company it has been found as yet impossible to train the women employees to higher duties. Similar remarks apply to the women employed in the Postal Order and Telegraph Clearing House Departments, except that in these no men have ever been employed. In the London District Offices and the provinces about 1,800 women are employed as sorting clerks and telegraphists, on work of similar character. The scales of pay are as follows: Per Week.  Men. First Class Sorting Clerk I and. 4OS., by annual incre- or Telegraphlst. . ments of 2s., to 56s. Second Class Sorting Clerk ]O.8s., by annual incre- and  Telegraphlst ] ments of ls. 6d., to ' 35s. Women, 19z. or 14s. (probationers) 18s., by annual incre- ments of 2s. to 4OS. 10s. or 12s. (probationers) 15s., by annual incre- The men and women in each class do, as nearly as possible, the same work. But the women's hours are often arranged with more consideration for their health and comfort, and, in particular, t hey do no night duty, of which there is a great deal.