The Canberra Times Gang-gang page columnist Ian Warden recalls in tomorrow’s paper that Canberra public service typists were in news in
the city's steamy summers of 1934 and 1940.
Way to go: kick the shoes off, keep the stockings on
It was sexist news, warns Warden, but “with, it seems, some
liberalising setting in during the intervening years”.
In January 1934, the Central Queensland Herald panted that
‘‘Canberra: Monday. Stockingless typists have been banned by Commonwealth
departments here.
No shortage of typists' stockings here!
"Two girl employees in the Census Office who presented
themselves for duty on Friday without stockings have been informed that they
must not repeat this conduct in future as it is considered indecorous and
against the interests of good discipline.
I know it's a heatwave, but this is ridiculous!
"When the Canberra message was referred to the Queensland
Public Service Commissioner John Story, he said that all the typists in the Queensland
government service wore stockings.
"Asked what would be his attitude should he
be confronted by bare-legged beauties, Mr Story declined to comment. But he did say he
had “never been called upon to deal with such a case and was hoping he never
would”.
.jpg)
Then in December 1940 the Hobart Mercury recorded ‘‘Stockingless typists. Canberra heat
wave: Canberra. Thursday. With the temperature hovering near the century,
Canberra has become a city of collarless men and stockingless women. Girls
employed in the Attorney-General’s Department have been granted permission to
go to work without stockings.
“A number of girls in other departments are planning to make
similar requests to the heads of their departments.”
OMG: No stockings or shoes!
Leo Manet's muse: Well, she does have stockings on
Nice stockings!
What, no stockings at all?
yes yes yes yes yes yes!
ReplyDeleteThese could have added interest to your museum exhibit. Very cute post!
ReplyDelete