W.W.S.A. Sole Co-ordinating Body

Manawatu Times, Volume 66, Issue 266, 8 November 1941, Page 6

W.W.S.A. Sole Co-ordinating Body

For aB Womens War Work

ORGANISATION TO BE EXTENDED AND STRENGTHENED Press Association. WELLINGTON, Nov. 7. Matters of far-reaching importance in connection with tbo utilisation of the services of women were dealt with at a meeting of the Dominion Council of the Women’s War {Service Auxiliary held in Wellington this week. The meeting, which was the first held since October, 1940, was opened by Rt. Hon. P. Fraser. Hon. D. Wilson, Associate Minister of National Service, w'as also present. Mrs. P. Fraser, Dominion president of the Women's War Service Auxiliary, presided. There was a full attendance of members from all parts of the Dominion and members of the Council present were: Mrs. Cocker (Auckland), Mrs. Moore (Auckland), Mrs. [Noel Adams (Cleveden), Mrs. Atinore (Nelson), Mrs. Mackie Begg (Dunedin), Miss Howard (Christchurch), Miss Herrick (Napier), Mrs. Bentley (Wellington), Mrs. Jov.ett (Wellington), Mrs. Knox Gilmer (Wellington), Miss Kain (Wellington), Mrs. Harris (Wellington) and Mrs. H. D. Bennett (Motueka). Mrs. Semple (Wellington) was also present. The Prime Minister paid tribute to the excellent services rendered by women’s organisations, particularly in relation to the war effort right throughout the British Empire. In this Dominion the progress made since the outbreak of war in preparing women for any service they may be required to perform was exceedingly gratifying and he felt sure that the step taken to inaugurate the Women’s War Service Auxiliary to co-ordinate all such activities had been fully justified. Mr. Fraser gave an account of. the part being played by women as seen by him during his recent visit to Great Britain and other areas in the war zones. That experience had led him to the conclusion that there existed in this country great scope in which women could render service not only in connection with patriotic work and for emergency services, but in maintaining the production of essential war commodities, foodstuffs and so fofth.

The Government had proposals under consideration which when determined would mark a definite expansion in the organisation of the Women’s War Service Auxiliary. These would include very essential functions in respect of the survey of opportunities for the fulltime employment in important branches of primary and secondary industries. I The Auxiliary would be asked to proceed immediately with the formation of a Women’s Land Corps the primary object of which was to recruit women to take the place of some thousands of our young men employed on farms who hav.j been called up but whose military service had been postponed due to difficulty in securing replacements. The proposed additions to the widespread activities already being carried out by the W.W.S.A. would necessitate the strengthening of the organisation in some directions. As a start the War Cabinet had recently approved measures designed to enable the Auxiliary to become the sole co-ordinating body in respect of ail women’s war work in the armed forces and in every sphere of action coming under the Government’s jurisdiction. Under this arrangement it would be a special function of the W.W.S.A. to ensure that all such work was allocated to the appropriate women’s organisations and to prevent any unnecessary overlapping or duplication of effort.

The comprehensive rules laid down by the Minister of National Service defining the uniforms, insignia and ranking for the auxiliary were dealt with at some length'. The rules had been formulated partly to give effect to certain provisions of the recentlypassed uniform and badges regulations, but primarily to bring about complete uniformity in the formation of training units, ranking, insignia, etc., associated with the units. The rules laid down place the W.W.S.A. on a proper footing, legalise tbeir equipment and at the same time give the necessary safeguard to the members for the benefits of pensions for injury received in the course of service in the auxiliiary.