WOMEN IN WAR

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 58, Issue 4187, 22 May 1939, Page 7

WOMEN IN WAR

THOUSANDS ALREADY ENROLLED.

Women are playing an important part in Britain’s national service plans. Already about 155,000 Have enrolled in various organisations. The Auxiliary Territorial Service has signed up about 10,000, the Women’s Voluntary Services about 127,000 the Nursing Auxiliary Service has nearly 12,200, and the Women’s Land Army nearly 6000. Now it has been decided that the Women’s Royal Naval Service, known during the War as the “Wrens,” is to be revived. The King has given permission for the formation of the corps, which will replace naval officers and ratings in wartime on certain duties, in naval shore establishments. Training for some of these duties is to be given during peace. Rapid progress has been made with recruiting for the Auxiliary Territorial Service, which is now more than half-way towards its establishment of 20,000. There is no fallingoff in the speed of enrolment. Recruiting for the Women’s Voluntary Services began on January 1, and by March 18 a total of 87,400 had been enrolled, estimating on a basis of a 60 per cent, return of figures from local centres. Since then enrolment has been proceeding at the rate of 10,000 a week. The total of 87,400 was composed of workers in A.R.P. (46.6 per cent.), transport and ambulance (8.3), hospital service (16.2) and evacuation (28.9). AMBULANCE IIRIVERS WANTED. It is'estimated that about 40,000

women transport service workers will be wanted. The London County Council will require 17,000. Statements of needs from all over the country show that most local authorities want about 50 per cent, of their ambulance drivers to be women.

The Marchioness of Reading, head of the Women’s Voluntary .Services, .has praised the enthusiastic response of British women to the appeals for National Service.

“The importance of learning to do a job before an emergency arises is very great,” she said. “I have been struck in going round the country by the various appeals and by the awareness of women generally of the need to train in advance to fit themselves properly for the -work they may have to take up.” WOMEN’S LAND ARMY. Women who enrol jn the Land Army must be ready to take up farm work as a full-time occupation in time of war. They are invited to join now but it is not at present intended to arrange peace-time training courses. In the event of war, the Women’s Land Army would be organised under the control of a women’s branch of the Ministry for Agriculture and Fisheries. Lady Denman, D.8.E., has agreed to become honorary director of this branch if the need arises. Women’s committees will be set up in every county to assist in recruitment, and in the placing of members on farms. The chairman of these committees have already been selected. The Women’s Land Army is intended to be primarily a mobile force, consisting of women ready to undertake all kinds of farm work in any part of the country. But women able only to offer their service* for work in a particular district are also needed.