NATIONAL SERVICE FOE WOMEN.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIV, Issue 16561, 9 June 1917, Page 1 (Supplement)

NATIONAL SERVICE FOE WOMEN.

A BRITISH MOVEMENT.

BT ÜBS. LEO MYERS. Every woman in England, urban and suburban, hearkened to the clarion call for organised service, convened at a colossal meeting at the Albert Hall. ... As always, in times of crises, well-iptentioned people over here gather at the Albert Hall. It is a sort of national gramophone, trumpeting the voice of the State, and put on records by the people! From arena to topmost galleries, the enormous auditorium was packed. . . . The unprecedented presenco of Queen Mary at a public meeting, accompanied by Princesses and Duchesses of tho Royal entourage, and flanked by representatives of the army and overseas dominions—tho persons of Lady Haig and Lady Robertson and the wives of Colonial High Commissioners, gave high significance and Imperial importance to the movement. On the platform were rows and rows of women, well-known in social, political, and public service spheres. You could feol the brain -waves ebbing and flowing. Women Police.

But more strenuous than sitting on a big platform, and looking intelligent were the physical energies of the uniformed women police, women volunteer reserves and auxiliary forces, who undertook tho work of male ushers and keepers of "law and order," and who succeeded admirably in handling the ten thousand people of that vast audience, with tact, neatness, and despatch.

Black was tho only wear. The Qneen and Court wore mourning for tho Duchess of Connaught, while most of the women present were in black on account of bereavements of their own. No colour lightened the opaque effect, except the choir of the Royal Choral Society, who, dressed in white with blue or scarlet sashes slung across their breasts, gave a note of colourrelief to a scene which was all background.

Thousands of disappointed women, who failed to gab admission, gathered in patient crowds at overflow meetings outside the hall. With my yellow ticket and badge (is yellow really the colour of emancipation?), I surged with a pressing crowd, into the great hall and flung into my seat just as the vast audience rose to greet Queen Mary. . . . The scene was more moving 'in its concentrated soberness than if it had been spectacular. The place seemed surcharged with intensity; with a perceptible atmosphere as of great numan power held in leash, eager to be set free.

Dampened Enthusiasm, Women thousand zczlons patriotic womenexpected a clarion call to service; expeoted to be told the nation's definite needs and exactly how women could still further carry on the work of men. . . . We were told nothing of the kind!

After the fanfare with which it was heralded—"National Service for Women!' —it was tho most extensive disappointment ever experienced. . . , The general attitudo of the speakers was that there were multitudes more women than were required, and? that we must all be good girls and stay "as we are." . ".' ". No more rushing over to France as carpenters, drivers, munitionettes or canteenettes; no more women cooks in khaki for camps. Instead, we were told we could be really useful as rag-pickers! Yesthere is a serious shortage of wool and cotton— women must save and collect all waste of thesa essential materials ;n order to provide blankets and sheets for the navy and army. ... No scheme was suggested, consequently our own wits did the wool-gathering!

Mis 3 Violet Markham, publicist, said something poetically vague about "preserving the homes of England, for which men were dying daily," but failed to indicate in a practical way the fulfilment of this ideal for which we were striving.

Lord Derby told us to stick to the work wo were doing (forgetting the fact that heaps of women have not found a warjob yet I), and not to leave one form of national service for another which looked more attractive! . . . Re-echoing tho old jibe in another form ,of women|s fickleness.

Women Wanted in Agriculture. Mrs. Tennant, director of the women's section of national service, announced that women are wanted to help in tree-felling and the preparation of timber, but she failed to "feel our muscles" or to state what the real nature of the employment might bo, whether it bo skilled, agricultural, or otherwise. It was left for Mr. Prothero—Prothero of jjotato fame-rto make the only definite appeal, borne out by enrolment forms, for volunteers on the land. . . . Women are really wanted in agriculture,. and the terms of training, outfit, and maintenance wer» Bet .forth clearly. Hero, was a speaker who had something to say, ana "a way with him" in saying it. He said there was no romance in it. It was not.a case of "lilac sunbonnets!" He did not gloss the squalors and penalties for women, of work on the land, but offered it as " a fiery cross of patriotic endeavour and utter self-sacrifice."

He dwelt, with no uncertain note, on the winter hardships of this land-labour for women, of its severity and back-aching nature, and frankly admitted it was dirty, poorly-paid, badly housed and disgusting. . . . "It has no romance except for the onlooker," he added, "but it is comparable to the work our men are doing in the trenches. ... It is work of sheer Belf-sacrifice. . . . The need is great. . . . We want food." . . . Judging by the applause which followed this frank and practical appeal there will be battalions of women, young anil strong, pledging themselves to work on the land.

A Vast Disappointment. The other speakers were less vigorous. . . . Mr. Neville Chamberlain, tall and slim and elegant,- presided—as director general of national service. ... He can be eloquent, but he obviously preferred to be a passive chairman, lending the weight of pure personality to the proceedings. .' . . After all, it is an achievement to say little and yet create a deep impression. ' Mr. John Hodge, big and broad, as befits' the" Minister for Labour, was the last speaker, and belaboured the women who left their seats before Her Majesty! ... but as Mr. John Hodge is an antiwoman taxi-driver advocate, there may have been a reason for feminine backs turned on him. . . .• As the enormous crowd poured out of the Albert Hall, each individual woman, who had come to find her allotted task, went away crestfallen and empty. The meeting was a vast disappointment; more in the nature of a demonstration than an inspiration. . .It =. might have been so stirring! -60. splendidly inspiring I •