WOMEN'S CORPS

Auckland Star, Volume LXXII, Issue 228, 26 September 1941, Page 9

WOMEN'S CORPS

Clerical, Canteen and Truck-painting Jobs

There's JitUe glamour in the sort of war work which Is exactly the same as the work you do all day long. There's not much excitement in coming back to type at night after you've pounded a typewriter from 9 till 5. There is only the knowledge that you're doing something that needs doing. That is how tho girls in the clerical section of the Women's National Service Corps look at it. It's their war job, and that's all there is about it. Since April, 1910, groups of half a dozen girls have been working three and four nights a week for the army. They all work in offices during the day. Those who have no other job "do clerical work for the army during the day. Not only that, but many of the girls have given up their holidays to spend their time at Rutland Street (and other military depots. Surely a pretty good record for constant, unceasing service, with little limelight. The work the girls do is largely connected with transport and other records at the various camps, such as the adjutant's oflice at Narrow Neck, the District Headquarters, and the quartermaster's stores, Rutland Street. Here are the figures that tell the tale. In the last six months the girls have worked 5560 hours, an average of 92G hours per week. Some members have been constantly on the job since the beginning. Captain Marie Kraegen. secretary of the corps, controls the clerical section. Splendid Spirit The other sections of this service corps, which has Miss D. M. Hawkins as chief commandant, also live up to the same high traditions, and it must be understood that all the work in every branch is voluntary.

Take, for instance, the canteen section. Here, there is a difficulty, for many of the girls in this section work during the day, and canteen work is not available at night.

This means that opportunities for them to serve are few and far between. But are they downhearted? No!

They do their job by attending parades regularly, and by ushering at concerts and on other special occasions. Praise is due to these girls who have learnt that, "they also serve who only stand and wait."

The girls, who are free during the day, work in the canteens at District Headquarters, and some are at the emergency hospital at Ellerslie. Lieutenant P. Davidson is in charge of this section.

Mention must also be made of the band. The corps is the only women's war organisation of its kind in New Zealand with its own band,, and it has been built up only by hard work and perseverance. Instruments are very expensive to buy nowadays and sacrifice has been, and is still needed to raise money to pay for them. The conductor is Captain Jean Hamilton, and considerable assistance has been given by Captain G. Buckley, of the Papakura Band. The band manager is Mr. C. D. Dagg. Painting the Trucks The work of the transport section is better known, though even here some confusion exists among the general public as to which organisation the trim girls driving trucks belong. They work every day from 9 till 5.30 and sometimes on Sundays as well. Not so well known is the work they do painting the trucks, in all weathers, at Papakura. Several girls are more or less permanently at various military offices, doing clerical work in connection with transport and the assessing of vehicles. Captain P. Gorrie, who is second-in-command, is at present in charge of the transport section, in the absence of Captain N. Dagg. The signallers are a smaller though no less enthusiastic group, and are shortly to take their first year's test. They add still further to the fine record of service of this women's corps.