EXTRAORDINARY EXAMINATIONS

NZ Truth, Issue 580, 29 July 1916, Page 6

EXTRAORDINARY EXAMINATIONS

What Wotld a Lady do?

"Dot," "Truth's" lady scribe, writes that she was In a certain Wellington establishment recently, and listened to a discussion as to the results, etc, of the examinations i that had been conducted by the Women's National Reserve." Some of the girls had either presented themselves for the test, or had friends who had done so. "Thought It was clerks they wanted for Government billets? said 'Ginger.'" "So It was said, but we think the questions were set for fools, or budding detectives, retorted 'Smller.' " "What kind of questions did they giver* "Oh, something llko thesei A few baby arithmetic sums m compound addition, also an application to be written." "Well, that's all right" "Yes; but most of the work was m the last and longest batch of questions which were rotten. Just listen to this: If you lost your hat-box m the train between Napier and Wellington, what would you do when you arrived at your destination?" "Now, what a foolish question." "If a girl cannot hang on to her dearest possession during that short journey, she is not fit for any billet, any where. I've travelled all the way from England, third class, and never lost a thing, snorted 'Smller.' " "Perhaps that question Is a bit over the odds, but where does the detective part coroo m?" "Why, everywhere. It comes m about the loss of the bat-box, which would have been stolen, because only a fool would lose it, and it comes m another question very much indeed. It was something like this: If you came home and found your house had been bug-buga- — no, burgular, oh, hang it, burglar-ously (fancy using a word like that) entered, what 'steps would you take?'" "Guess l'd>take steps, quick and lively, to get outside and call a •bobby,' smiled 'Ginger.' " "But what answer did you give?" "Search under the bod and wardrobe, etc, to Bee. if the brute was still on the premises; rush and see If watch, brooches and cash were m looking-glass drawer and under tho bed clothes, and then yell like murder for tho landlady and police." Much laughter from the girls, and grins behind "Dot's" veil. Bvidently the academic idea failed to , reach the practical brains of busy girls. But, why should girls m good business positions be sitting for these examinations? The work offered is, or should be, only for the duration of the war. Wo do not want to find all tho late Mr. Seddon's splendid work li\ tho interests of Labor rendered useless, for useless it will be, it our men who have left good situations to go and light for us, aro to find a girl or woman, at hal 2 the rato of pay, m their places on their return. And it Is tho women of tho National Reserve who must, look to this and save thoir military brothers m arms from cruel exploitation as "Dot" has said earlier la this page.