FOR IMPARTIAL INQUIRY

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 120, 16 February 1944, Page 4

FOR IMPARTIAL INQUIRY

There appears to be a feeling of dissatisfaction abroad concerning the recent call-up of women in the 31-40 age group “for work of national importance.” This feeling, it is stated, arises not so much from unwillingness to serve if the need is urgent and unavoidable, as from an impression which has gained ground that the. combing out ot women front the armed services has not been‘sufficiently thorough. With this impression prevalent the criticism against the call-up of women from 31 to 40 is not unreasonable. But it can only be answered convincingly in one way—by such an impartial investigation of the position of -women in the armed services as will remove all doubts about In the course of a public statement in November last General Puttick referred to “the many rumours that were being circulated to the effect that most of the W.A.A.C.’s were wasting their time in camp and doing nothing. He knew of none,” he added, “that were unemployed. and quite a number that had more work on their hands than they could manage.” About the same'date a report from New llymouth stated that the W.A.A.C. personnel in the Taranaki area was being substantially reduced in accordance with Army reorganization policy, and that some of the women thus released would be directed into essential industries. The message added that it was understood that “throughout the Dominion large numbers are being released from the Army, and that decisions regarding their future employment would rest with the district manpower officers.” . . General statements of this kind are not convincing. The public would.be better satisfied with precise facts and figures. The nearest approach to anything of the kind was a statistical table published last week of the number of servicemen and servicewomen demobilized from the armed*forces to the end of November last, but this even was unsatisfactory in that no precise information was given in regard to the number of demobilized servicewomen. The figures stated that a total of 15,623 returned from overseas and 17,470 on home. service had been demobilized and were in various stages of rehabilitation, but no indication was given of the number of women as distinct from men Why was that information not given ? There still remains, however, the unanswered question, unanswered as regards the real position, as to whether the number of women now employed with the armed forces is. or is not, in excess of actual requirements. The Army authorities, hitherto no doubt accustomed to their verdict on requirements being accepted. without question, would probably be unwilling to. admit that these might well be excessive. There have been ministerial undertakings to have the whole question thoroughly reviewed, but whether this has been carried out or not the fact remains that the real position still remains oboCiue. The public should not be left with the impression that a proportion ot the voting women in uniform are occupying positions for which there is no real justification. An inquiry into the facts is clearly needed.