WOMEN AND WAR WORK

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3138, 17 July 1917, Page 3

WOMEN AND WAR WORK

A LACK OF ENCOURAGEMENT (By "Imogen.'") Once upon a time, and not so very Snany years ago, New Zealand had a reputation for extreme progressivenees, even extreme political recklessness. Indeed (she regarded herself nroudly as the one country in the world that was not afraid, to. try any political experiment that made for the well-being of-" the masses, and she brushed aside with airy irreverence the traditions and conventions that were so fondly clung to by the Old World. To-day the women of this oountry are 6adly asking themselves why. it is that in such_ a crisis as this, when boldness and daring and a statesmanlike vision of the needs of the time are looked for, that an utterly Victorian attitude of mind seems to be the predominating trait of the National Government in one particular matter. There are other questions, but it is that one. particular point that is of such concern to women, and no longer can we pride ourselv.es upon the progressiveness of a country that has . practically refused to avail itself of the services of :ts women. It is a matter that women are becoming deeply resent'.ful about, especially when it is bruited abroad that they are .doing so little to release men for the front—that they are bo backward in coming forward and offering to do the work \that- is now being done by men- eligible for service at the front.- • -

Long ago women saw that if New Zealand were not to suffer very seriously from' 1 the depletion—the necessary depletion—of its manhood for service at the front, there must be an organisation of their services, and representations had been made to the Government over and over again for assistance in training and equipping the women for the work that must inevitably fall upon their shoulders if the' war were to be dragged out for an indefinite period of time. A special appeal was made for training women in agriculture, the very life-blood of' New* Zealand. And what lias been the result? Most'certainly not the throwing open of the agricultural colleges for their 'training, nor the placing in their way of'a single facility in that direction. Instead they were told that the conditions of this country did . not ndmit of such work, as they, were so

largely pastoral, and the particular Minister to whom .they made their representations advised tliem to turn their attention to the work of looking after and cheering the mothers and relatives of the soldiers who had gone to the front. While admitting that sucli work is very admirable and has helped to cheer many a desolate, sorrow-stricken -woman, it is .not going to keep the industries of. the country going when the time comes for the married men to be called up.

For- a long time past women have read for themselves .the magnificent work which the womjn of Britain have been doing, not only in "keeping the home fires burning," but in many other ways as well, and when they have pointed out to the authorities what British women have undertaken in the way of agricultural work, they have been told that the work here is very, very different. Probably it is, indeed One knows it is in some ways, but it has to be remembered that many of the women at Home who are r.ow doing the Toughest of farm work aro gently-nurtured women who had never in their live 3 done hard work of any kind. With what success they are doing it we have all read. With regard to New Zealand women, the fact has to be considered that the leisured class indigenous to Great Britain does not exist ■ here, and most women, even in the wealthiest of homes, have had at some time or another to turn to and do practical work of some kind or another owing to the independence of labour. They are more intimately in touch with work, whether it is work on a station, on a farm, or any other kind. There is not the same ignorance to fight against, nor quito the fame "breaking , in" process needed. Women i.n this country are extremely adaptable and full of resource.

At the-same time that the Minister to whom representations were made as to the ways ill which women could help their country advised the keeping of a watchful eye upon the relatives of soldiers who were at the front, he pointed out that women could prepare themselves to clean tramcars, railway carriages, to learn the grocery and drapery businesses, clerical .work, etc. The Women's National Reserve.had long ago set itself the task of teaching women clerical work, and it did not get any assistance from the Government in that task. Tn ,an'swer to a Government call for the clerical registration of women made in July a' year ago, 8. r >o responded, which .is a fairly good indication of the keenness of women to do their share of the country's work. -

The rapidity with which the Government keeps pace .with the needs of .the time is illustrated by tho fact that a

firm that engaged a woman to manage a lift in its shop was fined because it was a breach of the law, The law had not been amended to allow women to do ibis work, and that after nearly three years oi' warfare.

If women's servicos had been employed in other capacities than that of carnage cleaners by the Railway Departinmt would, there havo been need of such drastic curtailment of the running of trains? One argument that, had been used against the employment of women as porters was that they would have such heavy weights to lift and carry. So they would if they entered the grocery trade. Also if an adequate number of women were cmployed two or three together could Geal with heavy luggage and goods, just as they do at Home. Individual women have in many cases stepped forward in various parts of the .Dominion', and are doing to the best of their ability, the work which has fallen from the nands of brotners, husbands, anil fathers who have gone to light for their country. From time to time one neurs of tneir worn, and if they call do such things .then tne Government should realise that there is lying to its hand an untouched and most valuable reservoir of energy that has been thrown back upon itseli time after time. While the Military- Appeal Boards may come across cases where women have not realised the necessity for their services, they must on the other hand have heard many more instances where the women of the.fninily are showing as much abnegation of self as are the men who' have gone to light for the existence of our civilisation.

It is somewhat curious that in a country that was one of the earliest to give its women the franchise there should be such a low estimate placed upon tho capacities of her women for war service. The records of the Women's National lteservo show how keenly women have seized the opportunities-of service that have been placed in their way, and the lack of response on the part of the Government only goes to show how greatly Now Zealand has fallen into the rear in regard to initiative. In a word, she has become early Victorian, while the Test of the world has become wide awake.

It is a very interesting little exhibition of sketches which has been arranged in MacGregor Wright's studio by Miss Jessie Newton, Miss Flora Scales, and ilrs. Prince, for ihe benefit of (ho Y.M.C.A. Trench Comforts Fund. liiall there are about thirty-six sketches, the greater number of them being in watercoloiiis. Although the exhibition only opened on Monday; quite a few already have the red ticket announcing a sale, and as the prices are very moderate, ranging from 10s, 6d. to about two guineas, some charming glimpses of New Zealand scenery should find a rest-ing-place in Wellington homes. '

A medical authority, reporting on a case submitted to the Claims Board of the Auckland Patriotic Association, emphasised the danger of exciting amusements to convalescent, soldiers, particularly those suffering from shell-shock, neurasthenia, and ivounds in the head. It was stated that the extent of improvement, and perhaps complete recovery, 111 these cases, depended largely; upon the mode of living. Cigarette smoking iu excess, fast motor rides, the excitement of horse racing, and other like amusements, would prove very detrimental ill all the cases mentioned, and would keep the patient in a perpetual state of the "jumps," a state very prejudicial to liis recovery.

Miss Scanlan returned to Palmerston North yesterday from' a visit to Wellington.

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