Manawatu Evening Standard. TUESDAY, APRIL 22, 1919. WOMEN'S WAR WORK.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLIII, Issue 1515, 22 April 1919, Page 4

Manawatu Evening Standard. TUESDAY, APRIL 22, 1919. WOMEN'S WAR WORK.

As the censorship lifts and one gathers more of the wonderful effort put forward by the Motherland in the Great War, admjration and respect naturally deepen, especially as wo contemplate tlje part played by the womon of Great Britain. There is scarcely a department of the war in which thoy have not rendered ominent service to tho Empire, unless it is in tho actual fighting itself. Womon replaced men in a'l tho crafts and handicrafts, and in every branch of agricultures and production. Women "manned" tho railways, tramways, and motor buses; thoy took the place of butchers and bakers; thoy even acted as blacksmiths, and served in tho firo brigades, moro than one such brigade being wholly composed of women. They were to bo found in every branch of industry doing tho work formerly allotted to men, and, in many instances, bo it said, doing the work better, more expeditiously and in cleaner fashion, than some 'at least of tho men they had replaced. As munition workers, and even in tho great foundries where guns of big calibro were cast, and in the workshops where all the accessories of war were turned out, women performed meritorious service. The Women's Auxiliary Army Corps (W.A.A.C.'s as thoy were termed) acted as an adjunct to tho Army Service Corps, and its members were frequently found doing duty so close to tho firing line that their lives were continually in danger. In the manufacture of aeroplanes they were again employed in great numbers, and it may bo fairly said that it was as much duo to tho energy displayed by tho women of Great Britain, as to tho courage and resource of tho men in the lighting line, that tho final victory over the enemy was secured. The W.A.A.C.'s were formed under the patronage of Queen Mary and at Her Majesty's express desire, one of the principles adopted in connection with its membership being that no women should be employed by it unless a soldier was thereby relieved for other purposes. Women were thus employed on the Home Staff, and on the lines of communication as clerks and telegraphists, cooks and waitresses, and in tho army stores as checkers, packers, tailors, sewers, shoemakers, messengers, and bakers; they operated the transport, telephone, and postal services, and thus they were able everywhere, to release men for the lighting line. But possibly the most surprising development of the war was the formation of the Women's Royal Naval Service Corps, which, during the few months of its existence (it was only called into being last year), proved extremely useful, enabling large numbers of naval ratings, engaged at the yarious ports, to bo released for duty at sea. The work of the W.R.N.S. Corps was limited to occupations ashore, but, in each and all of these, the "Wrens" (to give them the name by which they were

known) proved more than equal to tho demands mado upon them. Tho service was divided into skilled and unskilled workers, and was properly officered. Apart from clerical, and household work, tho Wrens undertook the duties of engineers, electricians, garage workers (also qualifying as driver-mq-chanics), aircraft hands, photographers and draughts-women, many of the women so engaged had their men folk in the Navy, and they were especially dec lighted to be employed in the same service. A series of photographs reproduced in one of the illustrated London journals, show His Majesty the King reviewing a section of the women of tho. W.11.N.5. at Immingham Docks; Dame Katherine Furze, Director of the Service, addressing olficers and women of the Reserve; women officers at drill, and Dame Furze discussing matters affecting the Service with Sir Eric Geddes, First Lord of tho Admiralty. The women in their neat uniforms and orderly array look very naval like. The Service is moulded on the same lines as tho Women's Army Auxiliary Corps, and accomplished much good work during tho war, revealing the unsuspected strength and adaptability of the women of Great Britain for tasks that, five years ago, would have been regarded as altogether outside their province and capacity. When the story of tho war comes to be covered, as we presume it will bo some day, many a long chapter will need to bo written showing how the women of Great Britain helped to win the war. Tho help and inspiration they, havo been to their men folk is beyond all praise.

Mr J. C. Wedgwood, a. member of the Houso of Commons, has joined tho Labour Party as a protest against tho Liberal Party's lack of ideas and courage. Tlio ballot taken by the English minors on tho question of accepting Mr Justice Sankey's report resulted in 693.084 being in favour of acceptance and 76,992 against. During the interval of a gamo of Assoeia-; tion football at Wellington on Saturday afternoon a man named Kmas Long, when attempting to kick the ball foil and Lac-' tured his right leg.

A London cablegram announces that Mr G. Wardle, Parliamentary secretary for Labour, stated Ihat unemployment donations, from the armistico. to 4th April, totalled £14,300,000.

A Sydney cablegram states that four German internees at Darlinghurst gaol bound and gagged cho sentry. Three of them then scaled tho wall and escaped Two of them were subsequently recaptured, but tho other one is still at liberty. Tho Napier Competitions Society concluded its sessions last evening. Tho competitions commenced last Thursday, and drew crowded houses. Tho competitors were mainly from Hawke's Bay. though Auckland, Wellington, Wanganui and Hawera also sent contingents.

A cablegram from London states that in tho tennis doubles championship challenge round Heath and Lycett beat Dawson and Mavrogordato, tho scoro being 6-4, 7-5, 4 ; 6. In tho mixed doubles final Lycett and Miss Ryan beat Dawson and Mrs Lambert Chambers by 6-4, 6-4.

Tho capsizing of a motor car near Lawrence resulted in tho death of Mr William Leslie, of Riversdale, aged 60 years, a representative of tho Now Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company. Tho other occupants of tho car, Messrs William Lynch and John Jones, sustained minor injuries.

A nine-roomed dwelling at the northern end of Carterton, occupied by Mr F. Wise, was gutted by fire on Saturday night, shortly after 10 o'clock. There was no one in the house when the fire occurred, and its origin is. a complete mystery. The building was insured for £6OO and tho furniture is stated to be covered by a policy for £2OO.

Strange finds are sometimes made in the intestines of animals slaughtered at tho city abattoirs (says tho Dunedin Star). Nails of all kinds, wire, tacks, and pins are met with every day, but last week the find was unique. A. young heifer was found to have swallowed a Bank of New Zealand tenshilling note. Tho noto was almost a new one, and in a good state of preservation. Miss Joyce Lankshcar, aged 25 years, died suddenly on a launch while- travelling from the Great Barrier Island to Auckland. Miss Lankshear, who came from Wellington, had been staying with somo friends at tho Great Barrier, and as she had been unwell it was decided that she should go to Auckland for medical attention, but sho had only been on the voyage for a few hours when she expired. At the inquest a verdict was returned of death from heart failure. The continuation of tho dry weather in Auckland is again bringing under attention tho position regarding tho city's water supply. The Mayor, Mr J. H. Gunson, stated last week that tho storage in tho Waitakero reservoir was being steadily depleted. It was felt, however, that the matter could bo held in abeyance until after the Easter holidays. If tho dry weather then continued it would be necessary at the end of tho month to impose further restrictions on consumers.

Following is an extract from tho minutes of tho annual conference of the N.Z. Presbyterian Young Men's Bible Class Unioii, held on tho showground this week: Mr Troup moved and Mr Truman seconded. "That this conference record its high appreciation of tho consideration accorded to us in publishing accounts of the doings of the camp, and especially of tho courtesy and consideration received from tho "Manawatu Evening Standard." The motion was carried unanimously and with acclamation. A Maori boy named _ Georgo Wacrea, was charged at Napier with having wilfully set firo to To Ante College. Detective Butler said the accused had confessed to him that ho sot alight to the school, as his cousin had left tho school, and his teacher had thrashed him unmercifully. There was absolutely no truth in tho boy's statement concerning the thrashing. Tho accused, who reserved his defence, pleaded not guilty, and was committed to tho_ next sittings of tho Supremo Court in Napier for trial. Bail was allowed in two sureties of £IOO ouch, and accused himself for £IOO.

At Martinboroiigh on Saturday nightConstable Dick captured one of tho six German prisoners of war who escaped from Featherston camp on tho previous Wednesday. The escapee who was thus caught was J. J. Slijn, formerly of Auckland. Ho is 24 years of ago, and as ho was tho only one of tho six who could speak English fluently and without accent, ho was regarded as tho probablo leader or scout of tho party. His recapture, therefore is looked upon as the more satisfactory, as there is good ground for believing that the other five cannot be far away.

An Australian soldier told a London pressman that he 'was talking "lucky escapes" with a Tommy, who related how a big German shell, landing in "reserves," caused some consternation. "Just as the smoke was drifting away," he said, "I saw a man coming out of one of the shell holes, simply dripping with black mud —so covered with it you couldn't sec anything else. Ho was one of vour Australians." "Yes, but how did you Know, if you couldn't see anything but mud?" objected the Australian. "Oh, I heard what ho said!" replied tho Tommy, quito seriously.

Not bullet proof, but absolutely waterproof,—the . new military umbrella for iadies. Made with short handle with wrist straps. A convenient style for travelling. Prico 18s 6d and 27s 6d.—The C. M. Ross Co., Ltd.—Advt. Why not_ add to tho pleasure <if your winter fireside tho pleasure of a tiled surround ? In some pleasing art shade to harmonize with your room this added beauty to your fireplace will give you great delight through all tho season. Our English tiling experts gladly supply designs and estimates freo and the job will occupy only a few hours to fit into place with very little muddle entailed. Ask Collinson and Son. -Advt. "Tho Brothers Inseparable—Foresight and Health." —Stanus. Just a little foresight would save a lot of sickness, trouble and expense. Take this period of the year, for instance. Tomperaturo is most inconsistent. That means coughs, colds and sore throats—unless foresight is used by having tho greatest of all remedies—Baxter's Lung Preserver— handy. This staunch friend has been'doing good for 50 years. So you see, it is tried and tested. Get Baxter's' to-day. Bottle 2s 6d. —Advt.

A cablegram from Madrid states tliafi Signor Romanones hja 3 resigned, and Signor Maura has formed a Cabinet. A lad named Alick Jolly, eldest son of Mr W. Jolly, had tlio misfortune to sustain a fracture of the small bono of one of hig. amis at tho Caledonian sports yesterday. The latest report from tho Financial Assistance Board, submitted to the Minister of Defence- (Hon. Sir James Allen), _ states that for the month ending 14th April 3406 warrants had been issued, covering an expenditure of £9164, including rent £3739* interest £2046, life insurance £2154. At Awahuri last night a gathering of the residents was held at Mrs Bennett's residence for tho purpose of bidding farewell to Mr and Airs McCroric, who are leaving tho district for the purpose of taking up their residence at Cheltenham. There was a large gathering, and a pleasant evening was spent with games and musical items,' and an enjoyable supper was also provided. During' the evening Mrs McCrorio was presented with a silver cake dish from the ladies of tho congregation of the Prosbyterian Church in recognition of her valuable services in connection with church,' work.

In tho Lyttolton Police Court last week, William Christie, a steward on tho Ilororata, was charged with stealing from tha vessel a horso-hair mattress, valued at £3, tho property of the New Zealand Shipping Company. Dctective : Sergeant Quartermain f-aid that Captain Bower, from tho upper deck, observed a .stranger carrying a largo parcel. On being accosted, this man said rb was Christie's washing he was taking ashore. The captain called the second steward to make investigation, but as soon as tho stranger saw the steward following him he dropped the parcel and ran away. The accused said he had given the mattress to tho man, but he was drunk at tho time/ and this was the reason for his action. Accused was fined £lO. in default one month's imprisonment.

Amid the highly-learned matter of which' tlio March number of tho Journal of Science and Technology is mado up is a report of the discovery of a figurine at Mauku, Auckland. Mr Klsdon Best deals with the subject, around which a romance could be written. Tho little figure is mado of steatite. It was picked up in unploughod land, uninhabited until twenty years ago; bub Maoris occupied the lands in pro-European days. Here, embedded in tho clay, tha little figure was found. It looks like a portrait of an ancient Chinese personage of distinction. Steatite and soapstono aro identical. How did it get whoro it wai found, and how long has it lain in tho clay? It is placed by Mr Best with the mysterious Tamil bell found on tho West Coast. Tha dress of tlio figure is that of a pre-Manchu Chinese, which, in some respects, survives in tho Korean national costume of to-day. Possibly some great junk out of the China Seas wandered down into theso waters and was never able to return, finally going to pieces on the coast in a westerly blow. Tho wrecked vessel would fall into tho hands of the Maoris had they survived tho seas, and of tho wreckage that camo ashore they would divide it among them. The figure is not like the soapstono images now made by Chinese, mostly for tho tourist and sailor trade

At tho Papatawa sports club's gathering yesterday the Maiden Hunters' competition was won by E. W. Watson, Palmerston North, with D. Piper, Pahiatua, second. Mr Watson was third in tho throad-the-nccdlo race on horseback. In tho ladies' driving competition there were seven competitors, Miss Brady being placed first, Miss Clark second, and Miss Hailstone third. In the high jump on horseback, G. Bradley (a Papatawa schoolboy) won, clearing nearly five feet, with K. Glendining 2 and I). R. Nesbit 3. Tho 100 vards handicap foil to W. H. Wiffin, with J. Tickner 2nd and A Beattio 3rd. In the 220 yards ladies' bracelet. C. F. Rowo was first, W. H. Wiflin 2nd, and J. Tickner 3rd. Tho ona mile bicyclo handicap, A. Gahz (150 yds) 1, A. Murray (190 yds) 2, J. Maby (95yds) 3. In tho 440 yds handicap, W. Brady 30yds) 1, E. C. La Frentz (20yds) 2, K. Glendining(2oyds) 3. The 120vds hurdles, J D. Piper 1, J. McGibbon 2,* D. McKinley 3. 880 yds handicap, K. Glendining (80yds) 1, I. McGibbon (80yds) 2, L. Carrington (95yds) .3. Hop, step and jump, La Frentz, 35ft 7in, 1, lan McGibbon 2. Tho nearest in the sheep weight-guessing competition wore Messrs Ridder, V. Lawrence, W. Baird and J. Murray, and they divided the prize. The sheaf-tossing competitions were won by J. Nilson, Prendergast, G. Hooper and J O'Neill. In tho final Hooper and Prendergast tied.