New Britain herald., 1930-12-15
W0MAN'S BUREAU
 HAS ACTIVE YEAR
Studies HardShips Imposed On
 Feminine BreadWinnerS

Washington, Dec. 15 - The wo- mems bureau program during the past year has comprised many va ried features, all Of real oignifi- canoe not only to women but to the home, the family, the community, and the nation, Miss Mary Ander- son, director of the bureau, pointed out in her annual report.
 The fiscal year ended June 30, 1880, Was an important milestone in the bureaus history, marking the end of it's first decade as a per manent agency and representing con- siderable expansion in the volume and variety of its work as the re- suit of increased demands from the public, according to the report,
 With the number Of women workers constantly growing, with the striking increase in married wo- men wage earncrs, with the share of women M family support and cco- homie responsibility assuming greater proportions, with acute problems Of employment and unem- ploymcnt for women pilug up as d result of our present machine age. and with the development of more industries and new processes giving rise to new hazards and ad- dltional strain for women workers, the task Of the Womcn's Burcau cacn year becomes more extensive and complicated" Mss Anderson explained
 The octopus of destructive eco- homie revulsions which has stirred up so much public concern and ac- ton during recent months has also been attacked by the bureau in it's function of rendering service to wo- men wage carners caught in these tentacles. the report reveals through Its studies completed or in progress.
 unemployment Problems
 The problems Of unemployment as related to older women workers and to married women breadwin- ners have been discussed in bureau publications and by members Of it's staff at conferences. The high points in such studies are the out standing difficulties of women Of over 4p not only in finding steady employment but in keeping jobs, and tho definite economic need be- hind the wage-earning activities Of the majorty Of married women.
 Another vital aspect of the unem- ployment situation investigated by the bureau in the past year is that connected with ;nc substitution Of machines for hand work, a study of this sort having been made among women employed in the cigar and cigarette industry in II states.
 Unemployment hardships dcvcl- oplns for women workers in radio plants as the result of the highly seasonal nature Of this industry were investigated and reported up- on by the women's bureau. l. IS pointed out that recurring depres- sions year after year for the past five years have tended almost to obscure the general upward trend Of employment in the industry dur ing this period. For example in A firms making receiving sets in 1929 and included in the study, 32.o00 men and women were added to tho force by August, following the low point in the Spring, and the vast majority of these were laid off by December of the same year.
 Hours, Wages Questions
 The vital questions of hours and wages of employed women have been given considerable attention in the 12-mOnth period. 4 special bull letm in the process of preparation will prove a valuable contribution, furnishing wage data on about fU1.- GOO white women and G,10O Negro women enjoyed in 1,472 factories. stores, and laundrics in Is states. As the material was collected over a period Of years wage figures in certain instances have been translat- ed into 1928 values for comparative purposes.
 From the viewpoint Of health and safety the bureau has prepared d bulletin on industrial accidents to