Interview with Olwen Oliff

Olwen Oliff was born in Upper Hutt in 1924. Gives the origin of her surname as Middle English. Discusses her family background and the importance of religion. Notes that her father was a railway shift worker who worked long hours. Describes education at Upper Hutt Primary School and Hutt Valley High.

Recalls her first day at State Advances when she was one of seven new cadets. Describes the offices. Comments that women ran State Advances during World War II. Describes the other women on the staff and discusses salaries. Discusses the impact of war deaths on the office and male-female relations in the office when the men returned after the war. Talks about working in the records section, moving to accounts and later working in statistics. Describes the work and the adding machines.

Discusses the temporary status of most women staff and notes that she worked seven years before becoming a permanent staff member. Comments on the effect on women's finances of this lack of grading, the increased impetus to marry as a result of this and the stigma attached to being unmarried. Talks about Agatha O'Shea, Edith Lerwill, Doris Hare and Veronica Ross. Describes how the Head Office men had an army of clever women working for them.

Discusses the beginning of the campaign by the PSA for equal pay for women. Notes that she worked part-time for a BA and was initially refused time to finish the last year of her degree. Describes training many staff. Talks about the role of a public servant and the importance of impartiality and discretion. Describes getting the job as section clerk for Housing Allication despite some resistance as it was normally a male postion. Recalls responding to ministerials.

Comments on allegations of favouritism by the Housing Allocation Committee and expresses her view that it was very fair. Describes writing the original draft for the Corporation manual. Recalls working for the Committee of Inquiry into Housing and The Commission of Inquiry into the Rural Bank. Discusses the restructuring of State Advances Corporation into the Housing Corporation and the Rural Bank. Describes getting a job as Divisional Administration Officer of Lending and her emphasis on trying to get loans for single women. Recalls G.E. Miller, T.N. Smallwood, J.D.R. Wood, W. Hay, R.G. Millard, E.J. Babe, H.J.(Hec) King, C.A. Reid and Albert Fear.

Comments on being a trailblazer for women in the public service.

Venue - Wellington : 1988

Interviewer(s) - Susan Fowke

Venue - Ms Oliff's home in Wellington

Arrangement: Tape numbers - OHC-002234; OHC-002235; OHC-002236; OHC-002237

Quantity: 4 C60 cassette(s). 1 printed abstract(s). 3.30 Hours and minutes Duration.

Finding Aids: Abstract Available - abstracting complete AB 411.

Alternative form available: Listening copies available at OHLC-003047, 003048, 003049 and 003050