MOBILISATION OF WOMEN

Greymouth Evening Star, 7 March 1942, Page 5

MOBILISATION OF WOMEN

STATEMENTS IN COMMONS. LONDON, March 5. Girls up to the age of 19 years will shortly be required to register for war work. This was announced bv the Minister for Labour and National Service (Mr. Bevin), when he wound up a debate in the House of Commons on the mobilisation of women. Mr. Bevin paid a tribute to the work already done by the women of Britain, and expressed the Government’s appreciation of their courage and sacrifice, which was an example to the rest of the world. Mr. Bevin also pointed out that the reserves of women to-day were greater than they were in the fourth year of the last war. The Government intended to economise in the use of labour in every possible way, in order to make greater numbers of men available for the armed forces.

Figures quoted by Mr. McCorquodale showed that the Government expected to get a further 35,000 from the new group of girls up to tiie age of 19 years. Women conscientious ■objectors constituted onlv a small fraction—l per cent. The registration of women up to the age of 41 would be completed by the end of June. During the debate, Miss Irene Ward and Dr. Edith Summerville urged that women should be given a greater share in the direction of women’s problems, and Miss Megan Lloyd George asked for the establishment of more nursery schools.