ITALIAN WOMEN WORKERS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XLVIII, Issue 4711, 8 November 1917, Page 5

ITALIAN WOMEN WORKERS.

The Italian woman is before all else a woman. Here an there an exceptional woman may qualify for an LL. D Last November a girl was awarded a master’s foreign certificate, the first granted to a woman hv tlie Italian nautical school. At the outbreak of war the Italian women responded to tlie call of tocir country with the most commendable spirit/ Quietly, without fuss, they came forward, expecting neither reward nor glorification, to serve their country. To help their husbands, sons or brothers to win the war and return home has been their aim. They are content to do any humble work. After only two months of war . women conductors were to be seen in many street cars ,in Rome, women scavengers were in the streets and women clerks soon followed. For the hanks and firms whose staffs had been depleted by calling to tlie colours all men between 20 and 39 there was no alternative but to substitute women clerks. In the Government service some departments largely replaced men with women. Though they were not so _ well trained as the men, the Italian women have not proved inefficient. They are versatile and quick. The same versatility and quickness have made the women of agricultural Italy, who know little about factories and hi ?? once into their new tasks. Of o00,00l) persons engaged at the beginning of this year in 2200 munition factories 100,000 wereywomen, as against 1760 in August, 1914, and 60,000 in October, 1916. .