WARTIME WOMEN

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue LXXI, 14 September 1940, Page 3 (Supplement)

WARTIME WOMEN

THE experience of a quarter of a century ago with the Bel- 1 giana have not been forgotten, and I am told that, as the result, the placing of the Dutch refugees is proceeding most smoothly. The most unsatisfactory part is their strict examination on arrival, which is apt to increase the discouragement of poor people already depressed in their feelings, and to provide a bad introduction to British hospitality. But for that, Hitler and his fifth column are responsible. The refugees are reported as being warmly welcomed everywhere, and the situation is made all the easier by the big percentage of them who have at least a smattering of English. There is to be no difficulty about employment, and it is already evident that if we are helping the distressed Dutch in a time of need they are going in their turn to help us greatly in our war effort. Apart from birr traders and others associated with shipping and banks there are among them many artisans and market gardeners. Amazons It has been enlightening to hear women's views regarding "parashooters." In nearly every group the opinion was expressed that the authorities might well accept feminine recruits. Thousands of women cannot join the auxiliary territorial units, because they are unable to give up all their time to war work, and for the same reason they find it impossible to put in eight-hour shifts for A.RP. work. But, like men who are still carrying on with normal jobs, they could give some time to parachute patrol j work. j Dungarees I Girls strolling about the West End j wearing slacks, for no other reason than ! to attract notice, have mercifully disi appeared. But at a dress show I was interested to notice really practical I dungarees to wear when working in the house or helping to "dig for victory" in

From Our London Lady Correspondent the garden. They are well cut, very workmanlike and, worn with a plain linen shirt blouse, look quite well. There is also what is known as a "topper skirt," cut on the dungaree principle so far as the bib front is concerned, but substituting a neat, short skirt for the trousers. Other dresses point to a cheery note in the midst of war-time stress, some of the models being made of printed silk introducing bold and gay floral patterns. For the Children I like the appeal the National Society of Day Nurseries is putting out on behalf of its knitting and sewing guild. It reads: "An appeal —with apologies to the Rt. Hon. Winston Churchill. Come then to the task, the thimble and the needle, to the sewing, the knitting, each to our part, each to our job. Fill the work basket, pour out the garments, wind the wool, sew the frocks, sweep the nurseries, crochet the caps, dress the children, guard the babies, and protect the rising generation." Evacuation Problem The section of the community that has probably provided the most difficult problem in the evacuation scheme is that comprising blind people. In the early days of the war, the blind in the danger areas who left for the "safety" belts were almost 100 per cent. Where they were removed from one blind institution to another the results were satisfactory. But the institutions capable of receiving them were few. The net result is that over 70 per cent of the blind have returned to the towns. The reason is simple. Familiarity with surroundings is almost essential to the blind, and in their own families and homes they receive an understanding help which, with : all the goodwill in the world, must be 1 impaired when rendered by others.