MORE WOMEN TO REGISTER

Press, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 23752, 25 September 1942, Page 6

MORE WOMEN TO REGISTER

WORK OF NATIONAL IMPORTANCE (P.A.) WELLINGTON, Sept. 24. Women aged 24 to 30, inclusive, will be required to register within seven days for work of national importance, according to a statement by the Minister of Industrial Manpower (the Hon. A. McLagan), who announced a new order to this effect to-day. The order extends the age class of those liable to register, so that now all women who have attained the age,, of 20 but who have not attained the age of 31, are now covered by registration orders. In the past, said the Minister, there had been some difficulty in filling posw tions in essential work suitable only for women of a more mature age than those registered so far. Mr McLagan emphasised that this registration was for industrial work only, the requirements of the armed forces for women recruits being met by volunteers. Registration under the regulations did not involve service with the armed forces. In the past married women with young children had not been exempted; from liability to register, althougl%£ instructions had been issued thatthespa' women should not be drafted into -* [ j ployment-in the meantime. Defim*. exemption is now being extended to married women whose domestic re- ..» ponsibilities include the care of young children. Mr McLagan added that it might be necessary later to withdraw this exemption, and he urged that any women with children who could do so should voluntarily undertake any useful part-time work for which they were qualified. The list of those exempted between the ages of 24 and 30 includes women already registered, those serving with or employed by any branch of the armed forces, full-time employees of registered hospitals, married ■women whose domestic responsibilities include the care of children or invalids, and inmates of hospitals, mental hospitals or prisons. The period of registration, said the Minister, would expire on October 1. and penalties were provided for failure to comply.