WOMEN FOR WAR WORK

Dominion, Volume 35, Issue 138, 7 March 1942, Page 7

WOMEN FOR WAR WORK

Procedure In Britain x (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, March 5. Opening the House of Commons debate on woman-power, .Mr. M. S. McCorquodale, Parliamentary Secretary of National Service, said that to date 5,000,000 women have been registered, of whom about 1,500,000 have been interviewed, and that interviews are continuing at the rate of about 50,000 a week. Apart altogether from service and civil defence requirements, he said about 35,000 women were being placed in jobs weekly, or about 150,000 a month. Of those called up, about halt had gone into civil defence or into the forces and the other half into industry. Women in vital jobs, he said, would not be called, up, hut there was only a very limited number coming into that category. It was realized that the future demand could not be met from women of the higher age groups owing to the difficulties of women in those groups leaving their homes, There must therefore, be a further comb of the younger* women. . He emphasized that an increasingly large number of women must be taken away from jobs in the less essential industries. There were. areas into which women must be imported ioi war work. Many women, because ot their household responsibilities, were classified as “immobile,” but this did not mean that they could not be used in the war effort. There was a local war effort to which they could-be sent to take over the work of “mobile” women who were being withdrawn. _ There must be a great extension ot part-time work, and he could not sufficiently emphasize the importance ot wide extension of part-time work in the national effort. The difficulties were great, but not insuperable, and he appealed to employers, as a national duty, to endeavour to start a scheme wherever possible. Inm which had tried such systems of parttime working had been agreeably Bururised <it the results. If people were to be directed to employment and not have an unfettered right to leave employment, there was an obligation on the part of the Government to see that proper provision was made for their health and well-bein ß . and the Ministry’s widespread welfare organization was doing this work. MORE MEN LIABLE FOR SERVICE British Proclamation (British Oflicial Wireless.) RUGBY, March 5. Men of 41 to 45, inclusive, are made liable for national service by a Royal Proclamation, which also calls on men who at today’s date have reached the age of 18. The higher age limit for men had previously been 41. The proclamation also calls up for service women of the same age groups who were born between December 18 and March 5, but who were not covered by the previous proclamation. Doctors and dentists, who previously were recruited below the age of 41, will now bo called up between 41 and 46. Army Purge. The move to remove all Army officers who lack the necessary mental and physical qualifications is warmly welcomed. It is pointed out in London, however, that nothing of ignominy shall necessarily be attached to such officers who, after report has been made ou their abilities, are not recommended for further employment, since many of the older officers have fulfilled valuable functions. With the great expansion of the Arinv in 1040, it was necessary to retain a ‘large number of older officers for training purposes. Now that there are considerable numbers of trained young officers, those older ones can be replaced if they are not capable of fulfilling their duties with the maximum efficiency.