WOMEN IN SERVICES

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 121, 17 February 1944, Page 6

WOMEN IN SERVICES

Action Being Taken To Review Allocation UTILIZATION OF LABOUR Action is now Being taken to review the allocation of women to the Services. From the nature of the inquiries being made, it appears that a thorough overhaul of’the-position, which has long been regarded with dissatisfaction by manufacturers and industrialists, will be made, and that this-in itself may be an integral part of . a . pending reorganization of the whole situation in relation to the utilization in New Zealand of female labour.

There are, it is understood, more than 8000 women personnel at present in the W.A.A.F. and W A.A.C. in the Dominion. Insistent demands have been made for a review of the situation in the light of the duties these women, who on enlistment were lost to the ranks of industry and other service, have been performing. Small releases of personnel from these groups have from time to time been made, it is reported, but- about a week ago a survey was instituted by the National Service . Department through the military and Air Force authorities. Special forms have been issued to women personnel, who are required to reply to numbers of questions, state the nature of their former employment, and signify whether or not they are willing to be released from the forces. It is stated that quite a few have felt that they would be fulfilling more useful service to their country by returning to civilian employment.

Categories of employment which they would be prepared to accept are listed, and they are asked to indicate their preference for mental hospital work, hospital work, the Lan-.l Service, laundry work, general factory c- btheriwork. Though no indication is given of priority it would appear that the first three forms of service, listed are those considered most urgen£. .