The Waterbury Democrat., 1942-06-17

men were placed against 145 worn- en. The largest concern in the dis trict now employees 1643 women or 9 per cent of the total, but ex- poets to run this percentage to 40 or 45 per cent by the end of the year.
 In addition to the usual shortages, the office is experiencing difficulty in obtaining both skilled and un- skilled construction help on one of the local housing projects, and the active file Is practically bare of any type of qualified male applicants.
 TOrringtOn
 The transition from civilian to war production has affected hirings in this area, as several local plants are contemplating no personnel changes whiIe awaiting government decisions on the continuation or cessation of present civilian orders
 One large machine manufactur- ing plant in this area began to hire women for machine work for the first time in its thirty-six years of existence. Other plants are rap idly coming to the realization that many of their new personnel, due to normal replacements or call to military duty, will have to come from the ranks of the unemployed women, and their plans are being made accordingly.
 One noteWor.ny development in the retail trades has been the ap- plication of the new minimum wage scale. One large retail store, an- ttcipating the new law as of June l, put 1t inOo effect early in May ana felt that 1t had already improved morale tremendously. The manager of this store said if he could keep labor turnover down he would be able to do business with third less help than the store had formerly used. He believes that the mini mum wage may be an opportunity to prove that higher wages actually increase net profits.
 Norwich
 All industrial plants in the Nor- wich area, particularly textile mills, are now into 8 high percentage of war production, and are keeping up volume well in spite of the nign turnover of unskilled employees.
 The opening up of construction work on large government projects in the neighoorlng area with nigh wages offered have drained rather heavily on the local male labor sup ply.
 Even local workers unskilled in other lines than textile appear to drift from plant to plant apparently shopping. This creates a high turnover in employment which is confined almost entirely to local residents. Rumors of opening of new plants have added to this rest lessness. In the case of female em- ployes in a cotton plan, some oper- ators are asking for the customary summer vacations. This creates a difficult situation in replacement. The Norwich office has referred 8 large number of both men and women to industrial plans. The difficulty appears to lie in the high turnover.
 UWAA1CASVM
 Practically all the textile manu- lecturers in this area are now en- gagged in some type of war work pro duction. Cotton conservation or ders have not resulted in any de- crease in employment but minor shortages in materials for repairs and replacement parts have oc- cured with increasing regularity.
 Incoming freight shipments at Danielson during the past month have exceeded anything experienced in a good many years. Except for local problems, the transportation situation seems now well in hand by the inauguration of new bus lines between this territory and other war production centers.