SERVICE FOR WOMEN

Press, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 23813, 5 December 1942, Page 6

SERVICE FOR WOMEN

Sir—About two months ago an order was issued that all women in certain age groups must register for “essential work.” Among those affected by this order was a young woman who for over two years has been discharging the duties of cook-general in a household where her services were very much appreciated and very urgently needed owing to sickness and the presence of young children. No appeal was lodged because it was felt that no obstacle ought to be put in the way of anyone needed for work of national importance, but any housewife will appreciate the difficulty of replacing such a valued helper at the present time. This girl,’ being coun-try-bred and from a farming family, applied for outdoor work on the land, where she doubtless w’ould have been very useful and no one could have felt aggrieved at being deprived of her services, but it does seem rather difficult to see why she should have been sent to work in a milk bar, which is what actually happened. One does not understand how service in a milk bar can help the war effort. —Yours, etc.. PATRIOTIC BUT PUZZLED. November 25, 1942.

[ln reply to this letter the district manpower officer said that if a coun-try-bred girl wanted to be placed on the” land she should apply through” the Women’s War Service Auxiliary, Regent Building, Cathedral square, and her application would be given every consideration, as girls were required for this work. “We shall be pleased to interview the girl who is stated to haye been taken away from a home where there is sickness and directed to a milkbar, as this case is not known to us,” he said.]