WOMEN WAR WORKERS.

Gisborne Times, Volume LI, Issue 5344, 3 December 1919, Page 3

WOMEN WA R WORKERS.

DESIRE TO COAIE To THE POAIINIONS.

OVERSEAS SETTLEMENT AIISSTON IN GISBORNE. ‘

GATHERING INFORMATION FOR THE IM PER IA !. GOVERNMENT

Two distinguished visitors to G?sborne at present are Misses Girdler and \\ atkin. who are visiting New Zealand in the service ot the Overseas Settlement Aiissicni for the Imperial vernnient. They have been sent out by Lord Alii tier, and landed in New Zealand on October 31.

In conversation with a Times reporter yesterday, these ladies said during their stay in the Dominions they would interview representatives from all organisations interested in the employment of women workers, as the object o 7 their mission was to ascertain for the Imperial Government the opportunities which were presented here for the employment of a number of English service women who desired to go overseas. There were 181,000 women who were engaged on war service, and of these a number had expressed a wish to seek a livelihood overseas. The Imperial Government had agreed to treat them as soldiers, and give them a free passage to the Dominions to which they desired to go, provided that the Government was satisfied that there was a demand for them in the Dominions. Therefore the whole object of the mission was to ascertain the openings which there were for them. The selection board which had been set. up in London would examine all applicants for this free passage, and they would have to be found physically lit and capable of doing the work which they 'proposed to do. The mission had to prove that the work existed. No woman would come out under this scheme wlio was not an efficient worker, and it was hoped that as the result of the mission’s report to the Imperial Government. a verv good class of woman would come to the country to do domestic work, etc., but who under other conditions might not bo engaged in this class of work. The report would be presented to the Imperial Government upon their return in Alarch. as .there was no object in hurrying matters. At present even if the report were brought before the Government, there were no ! shipping facilities for bringing the women out, and there could not be any facilities until next year. Aliss Girdler has already visited Canada in connection with the work of Die mission, and there she found that- thcie was a verv great demand for the services of these women. Her report upon Canada was at present bet ore tne British Government. From her observations in Now Zealand she was equal!., satisfied that the demand exist-jd ' , also. In Canada she thought, that the severe climate was a disadvantage. - Aliss Watldn also represents the Womens Land Army, while Miss Gufiler is administrator of the Womens Royal Air Force. Since their arrival here they have only visited the Noith Island, and at the end of the year they propose to go south. They will remain in Gisborne, at the Masonic Hotel, for a few days, during which time they are desirous'of meeting everyone who can give them the information they c.esin* on behalf of the Government, although thev will not have the tune 'to inf elli£v itevytaly who won's After leaving Gisborne they will go to Y? in- 1 ■Rotorua and Thames, and such Sicfc. to tKihoir visit will V very thorough.

INFORMATION FOR THE VISITORS,

MEETING TO BE HELD TOMLL.IIf mOEEOW .

The Farmers’ Union in New Zealand „ 1 organisation which has, has Tice < y visitors have been, wherever the tlie fullest inassisle _ Dominion secretary ot formation. 11 . , H branches the Union h » s f They met Mr W. of the Poverty Bay M. Bayb . soc.i .v , nr rangexneiits branch, yesterday. at 10.30 have been made T j ie moe ti.nsr will to-morrow mobmn-.- ceg nf thp Farmers tt R • nnd<? bnt business men and everyone