WOMEN COOKS FOR THE NAVY.

Dunstan Times, Issue 3138, 9 October 1922, Page 8

WOMEN COOKS FOR THE NAVY.

The issue of an official Navy cookery hook, which is also on sale to the general public, has revived interest in the question of cooking as a suitable occupation for women in ships at sea. .Many Continental countries, prineipally Norway. Sweden, and Denmark* for years past have staffed their oceangoing steamships with women cooks. And very picturesque they are. too! They are usually matronly women, and are either the widows of men who have died in the same company's service, or the wives of husbands who are still .in it. Very business-like these cooks look with their print dresses and white aprons, and their galleys are kept scrupulously clean. The women’s presence also tends to relieve the monotony of a life that is at all times hard. With Uritish shipowners the question of accommodation is a serious one. The more room taken up for quarters the less .space available for the cargo, and consequently the crew are too often housed in the smallest possible space. To such, shipowners' separate quarters for women are an impossible proposition, and there is little likelihood of them employing women cooks. In passenger vessels, however, where separate quarters are already provided for the stewardesses, there is a possibility of the cooking, too. being done by women. At one time a knowledge of cooking was the last qualification that a sea cook was asked to possess, but nowadays the Hoard of 1 rade insist upon a minimum qualification in anybody who signs on as cock. There are very few women who could not reach this minimum standard. That a seafaring nation like the Norwegian should have adopted the woman conk speaks volumes for (he utility of fbe idea, and then l is no doubt she will soon make her appearance in the liiitish mercantile service. Keen now a woman, generally the wife of the skipper. may sometimes be seen carrving <>ul dm domestic duties on very small Uritish craft. It may lu> many years before the "'email cook makes her appearance in |k' shins cl tla* Uoyal Navy, but bearing in mind the recent services of women. who can say what duties they will be asked to undertake in the future;' (fenerations ago women were allowed fe sail in naval vessels, and if is bv no means impossible for the same thing to happen again.