WOMEN IN UNIFORM

Greymouth Evening Star, 16 January 1941, Page 2

WOMEN IN UNIFORM

CRITICISM OF EXPENDITURE. If every member of every uniformed women’s patriotic organisation in Australia bought a uniform, nearly £lOO,OOO would-be spent, states the “Sydney Morning Herald.” Much criticism has been levelled recently at the variety and price of women’s uniforms, and particularly at the monopoly of supply held by certain city stotes. Some women buy uniforms on time-payment. The estimate by the chairman of the Red Cross Society (N.S.W. Division), Mr W. Johnson, that about £12,000 is “wrapped up” in the uniforms of members of the Voluntary Aid Detachments alone, is regarded as conservative. Moreover, it does not include uniforms for Red,Cross personnel, which would involve a large sum. Many V.A.D. members have two uniforms, headquarters recently authorising a change from white to blue.

If every one of the 10,000 women who have enlisted in the Women’s Australian National -Services provides her Sumrper and Winter uniforms, nearly £60,000 will be spent. Items are:—Winter uniform, £2/17/6; cap, 6/9; blouse, 10/9; tie, 1/6; one-piece Summer uniform, 19/11; cap, 5/6; Summer suit, £l/15/-. The . uniform of the Australian Women’s Flying Club, which has 380 members and a waiting list of 200, costs £2/10/- and the .Summer .and Winter uniforms pf the Women’s Emergency Signalling Corps total. £2 10/-. Members of the National Defence League pay. approximately £4 19/9 all told for their kit. Interesting items in the uniform of the Women’s Volunteer Naval Reserve are the brass buttons, which cost 5/-. The outfit comprises navy skirts and coats, caps,, white skirts, black ties, low-heeled shoes, stockings, and brown leather gloves.

FEMINISTS DISAPPROVE. The 3500 volunteers in the Women’s All Services Canteen, are entitled to wear tailored-to-measure uniforms costing . £3, with a cap at 5/-, and in addition a yellow working overall and tan accessories. If all the members, bought uniforms £15,000 would be spent. , Miss Lilias B. Dow, president of the Younger Feminists, who has already voiced her disapproval of the “stupidity” of so many uniforms, said recently that she was becoming more and more exasperated to see women adopting expensive uniforms. “In England, where they are bearing the brunt of the battle, most of the women in uniform belong to the Auxiliary Territorial Service, and are attached to the military,” said Miss Dow “As far as I. can discover, women in English voluntary organisations are too busy getting on with the job to. deck themselves out m uniform. Here, the whole position is becoming more ludicrous eveiy day.”