WORK OF WOMEN KNITTERS

Evening Post, Volume CXXIX, Issue 137, 11 June 1940, Page 6

WORK OF WOMEN KNITTERS

(To the Editor.)

Sir,—l have read with a great deal of consternation and disapproval the discouraging comments of one of our politicians, appearing in your issue of June 8, regarding the futility of our women knitters in the present crisis, and I trust the thousands of noble women and girls engaged in this very important and patriotic endeavour will accord the advice the scant consideration it deserves.

To me it seems the height of inconsistency to do as Mr. Moncur does, and admire the patriotic efforts of our women knitters and at the same time condemn and belittle, them. Admitting that machinery can produce at a greater rate, there is no gainsaying that the hand-made article is not only more comfortable, but its durability is infinitely greater. I recall with pride and gratitude the socks I received during the last war, handknitted by our women at home with loving thoughts and busy hands keeping the home fires burning. Surely, with the large field of labour available in our women knitters, it is better to make v full use of it rather than depend''on the machinemade article. Already our factories are snowed under with orders and are unable to meet requirements without tedious delays. Then there is the important psychological aspect. Women ir any war shoulder the v greater burden o£ anxiety, a. burden which is eased by occupation in useful work; ana sewing, knitting, or any service destined to promote the comfort and welfare of those who are defending all we hold dear is vital and essential. At the risk of being regarded as oldfashioned lam of opinion that less machinery and more of the cultivation of the simple arts and crafts known to our pioneers would produce a better people. Women knitters, Dominion-j wide, my advice to you is/not to be discouraged by these vaponngs. Garry on! Your work is most valuable and you are definitely war winners—l am> etC> OLD SOLDIER. (To the Editor.) Sir,—l read with surprise the statement made by Mr. A. F. Moncur MP. If Mr. Moncur, as a knitting expert, will pay a visit to the patriotic depots, he may change his opinion on seeing the enormous number of well-knitted articles made by our women knitters, who have done, and will continue to do, a splendid work in making thousands upon thousands of comfortable garments, at least 60 per cent, of which, up to the present time, have been contributed at no cost to the Government It will be remembered that practically no wool was available for issue by the Government during the early months of the war, but women knitters have worked unceasingly since September last With regard to Mr. Moncur's- suggestion that machinery should be organised to do the whole of this work,, I would point out that owing to the unprecedented deman-a upon industry created by war conditions, the Government, of which Mr. Moncur is a member, is at this moment appealing urgently to all women ex-machine workers, wherever possible, to take up their jobs again. I imagine that all new recruits available will also be needed for present requirements. I hope that none of our women knitters will be discouraged by Mr.Mon- :- cur's remarks. Rather should they realise that no knitting expert could fail to recognise the superiority of wellmade hand-knitted work over the machine-made variety, particularly when the comfort of our boys is concerne .— an^ e^ OMAN KNITTER.