Miss C Griff, A.M.I.A.E., presided at the International Conference of Women in Science, Industry, and Commerce at Wembley Exhibition yesterday. The morning session was devoted to engineering, chemistry, and research.
Miss Griff said that through the Sex Disqualification Act, the breaking down of prejudice by engineering societies, and enthusiasm and hard work, today women scientists and engineers were able to hold good positions, both technical and executive, and they had in London an engineering works staffed by women, and a steel company directed by women, and women writing scientific and technical papers. Women in science in the various branches were greatly in advance of women engineers.
Mrs Wilson presided at the afternoon session which was devoted to discussions on industrial welfare and factory inspection.
"The possibilities of advancement for women in industry" was dealt with by Miss E Wilson. She pointed out that the unemployment of men prevented positions being thrown open to women in competition with the result that only a boom in industry which would absorb the men could enable the vast field of women's labour to be utilised.
Conservative opinions held the majority of industrial firms in a strong grip, and the custom of a man doing certain work without considering whether or not it could be done better by a woman was difficult to break down. Tradition was the greatest obstacle women had to overcome.
