Poverty Bay Herald. PUBLISHED EVERY EVENING. GISBORNE, SATURDAY, MARCH 27, 1915. WOMEN'S PART TN THE WAR.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLII, Issue 13645, 27 March 1915, Page 2

Poverty Bay Herald. PUBLISHED EVERY EVENING. GISBORNE, SATURDAY, MARCH 27, 1915. WOMEN'S PART TN THE WAR.

When the history of the present war comes to be written not a few chapters will be devoted to the part that women have played m it. In the gigantic social, economic, aud moral upheaval that is .being experienced m all tho countries of Europe, women's lives and women's ideals have been tremendously disturbed. Volumes could be written of the sorrows and sufferings of women m the Avar — volumes that would bring grief and sympathy to the stoniest heart, and at the same time compel admiration and respect for a sex which m tlie face of the most terrible and unspeakable calamities haa borne untold i sufferings with fortitude and calm un<iuenchable spirit. And war has given

opportunity to women .to work such as they never previously possessed ; it has made them true helpmeets of man m a time of great national emergency. every woman can <io into the fighting line with her husband as did brave Queen Elizabeth of Belgium, who as a nurse has performed without flinching her share of service to the wounded, but 'there are many thousands of women who have emulated her noble example and rendered incalculable service to our armies, and thousands, hundreds of thousands more, who by patient service m their home circles are giving invaluable assistance. Tliey have given up their menfolk so cheerfully and so bravely to fight for the cause of justice and freedom, and set themselves with all diligence to do all that loving hands can do to help the soldier m the field. Writing of the work which has been done by women m England m this respect, Dr. Sloan Chesser, m a London newspaper, states that when, at thc beginning of the war, the whole community was se\7.ed with an irresistible desire to do "something," there was no doubt that some women, as well as some men, made grievous mistakes. Zeal is often misdirected for lack of knowledge. But m the minimum of time women settled seriously to work,

jerhaps because for the last few years ihey have been organising themselves nto socities, and so had a useful army if workers all over the country, willing io give work and money- where they ,vere needed. In past years most wonen of the well-to-do classes were, by ill the laws of convention, compelled ;o a life of trivialities . and self-indul-gence. The Avar has changed all that. Every woman is called on to work at ihe present moment, to offer some unselfish effort towards the work for soliiers and sailors and their families, for refugees, and for the unemployed. War is teaching »i"he great lesson that, unselfishness is the secret of power, that life is but the opportunity for service ", and all the world of women is evincing a desire to "help. Tliey are working as doctors and nurses, as ward-maids scrubbing m hospitals at the front. They are succoring the wounded m hospital trains; and at railway stations through the cold winter nights they are serving cocoa and soup and slices of "bread and butter to men straight from the trenches. The writer speaks of the splendid service rendered by untrained as well as by trained women at the front. There are thousands of efficient women, whose only training consists of first aid and nursing diplomas, who will be called on for invaluable services during the next few months when the need will probably be very great. At the same time fully trained women at a time like this are of inestimable value, as "the authorities are -beginning to recognise. The British Women's Hospital m Paris and at Wimereux, Boulogne, under Dr. Louisa Garrett-An-derson, is working m co-operation with the Royal Army Medical Corps. The Scottish. Women's Hospital (organised by the Scottish Federation of the National Union of Women's Suffrage Societies) has units m Servia, Belgium, and France which are a part of the Red Cross Associations .of these different countries. Magnificent work has been done m connection with the relief of unemployment and distress, and. the most unexpected women have come forward with offers of. help. The militants have . turned their energy to <good purpose. Such organisations as the Soldiers' and Sailors' Families Association, the Invalid Kitchens' Fund. the Queen's Work for Women Fund, and the Central Committee. for. the Employment of Women are rendering' remarkably practical assistance to the State. "We have at last reached the stage," says the writer quoted, -"of recognising that 'relief consists not m the giving of doles, hut m % providing work and opportunity for people to help themselves. The whole tendency of social work at the N present time is m the direction of utilising money which has been contributed for national purposes to^ give people who are out of work the opportunity for . training so that they will become more valuable citizens after the war. A-t a time like this every woman, as well as every man, m the country must contribute some measure of work and effort to the nation if they are to keep their self-respect. The elemental duty of women lies m the preservation 6f life, ahd women have thus the better part m war, m that; whatever their own suffering, they are not called ; on to take part m the infliction of suffering on. others." It is impossible to enumerate all the various kinds of work the women of England are undertaking for the war. One of the societies which has done, splendid national service is the Women's Emergency Corps, initiated by the actresses, contributed to by all classes and types of women. Their workrooms have kept many girls employed. By collecting and distributing waste foods the Women's Emergency Corps has taken a practical part m economising the ua-, tion's food. Workrooms also are being organised by the National Union of Women's Suffrage Societies, which has done a very 'aunan bit of work m caring for destitute alien girls. Another feature of the general activity has been the good service given by quite young girls during the crisis. "While .Mrs Haverfield has organised mature women Into' a Voluntary Reserve Corps, ready to undertake work for the care of women and children, despatch riding, first aid for the wounded, and the care of the aged and sick m the event of -a sudden crisis, Mrs Harley is utilising the energy of the young girl by forming an Active Service Girls' Corps. Everywhere is the note of service. And now women's sphere widens by the call which was made by the Government on employers to find occupation for women m various branches of industry hitherto held by men. so as to permit of the men going to the front. Ablebodied women are being given employment m agricultural work suited to their strength. Throughout France the autumn harvest was gathered m, and the ground ' prepared for next year's crop, largely by women. In England they are not being called to anything quite so strenuous but there are many duties on the farms well within their scope. In the armament factories a pjace is being found for them m the filling of cartridges, and shells, hitherto performed by men, and it is found that their deftness of hand makes them most useful at, this work. In Glasgow women .conductors are being put upon the tramways, whilst m hundreds of factories throughotit the country opportunity opens for women. It is an opportunity that is not merely transient, for wheli wo consider the wastage of war, the drain on the nations manhood, it is evident that women workers will be needed to fill up the gaps m many occupations, and -that capable industrious women will

be m great demand. Moreover, with the loss of so many breadwinners, it is necessary that women should * have greater scope and greater earning power. The Tnoveipent- initiated by the' Government to-giye work to w.omen is deserv- -i ing, therefore, of all .support.