WOMEN’S LAND SERVICE

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 87, Issue 245, 16 October 1943, Page 4

WOMEN’S LAND SERVICE

GIRLS’ COMPLAINT ABOUT UNIFORMS RIDING BREECHES WANTED ON SHEEP FARMS That some of the girls who responded to the appeal last year for recruits for the Women’s Land Service have not yet received the uniforms promised by the recruiting organisers is evident from two letters received by the "Chronicle" and from admissions by officials. It is apparent that in some degree the fault lies with the girls themselves, and also with the National Service Department. Appealing for more consideration as regards working trousers for Land Girls, “Shepherdess” writes: —“Did the designer of the cotton overalls, on issue, ever spend a wet. cold, lambing season in such unsuitable attire? Are there no Army breeches? The mounted units of the Home Guard were well clad, so why not the Land Girls, who spend most of their working time in the winter in the saddle? It is now nine months since I joined the Land Service, and I have not yet got the ‘attractive brown costume' y promised. Is it just departmental muddle?” "Disappointed Land Girl" writes as follows'.-‘-"After two months in my position I was issued with cotton overalls. I wonder if any ot the W.L.S. authorities ever spent a cold, wet spring day in cotton overalls. I feel sure that if they had we would have been issued with riding breeches or Jodhpurs. Upon making inquiries into the matter we were told that a vote had been taken in a dairying district and naturally overalls have gained the majority. What about the girls on sheep farms? Further, on our entry into the organisation we were promised a dress uniform. It is just on 12 months since I joined and so far I have not even received a measurement chart. Is it carelessness, lack of consideration, of merely plain muddling?" When tile complaints were referred to Mrs. D. E. Latham, who represents the Women's Land Service on the Women's War Service Auxiliary, she said that she could appreciate the need for riding breeches instead of cotton overalls for work on sheep farms esnd that she was glad the ques- j tion had been raised as representa- r tions could be made to the authorities. With regard to the issue of uniforms, Mrs. Latham stated that many of these had already been issued, but delays had been caused at times through the girls overlooking the necessity of filling in the necessary forms. On application, further forms could be obtained, and the iocal officials would then expedite matters. "If the girls will communicate with me I will take the matter up with the National Service Department controlling the scheme,” said Mr. A. R. Donaldson, secretary of the Primary Production Council, under whose auspices positions on farms are found for girls. During the recent recruiting drive, a number of girls in the Women s Land Service came to town to tell prospective applicants about their work and how much they were enjoying it. A number who could not be spared from their work to come to the recruiting depot wrote letters to officials of the W.W.S.A. telling them of their work. One girl who has been a member of the Land Service for 15 months wrote:—“l have enjoyed every day of my work on the farm. It is a grand job and it make* one feel that one is really doing something for the war effort. The work is < not half as bad as I thought it would J be. I milk twenty cows on my own r and help with the general farm work, docking sheep and digging bulrushes. I am keen on gardening so the farmer for whom I work has fenced quite a big piece of ground for me as a sparetime job. The farmer’s wife is very kind to me, and she does my rooni, also my washing. We work in together as much as possible. I help with the dishes at night and do odd jobs to make up for what is done for me. I hope you are very successful with your recruiting drive for land girls, as I think it is one of the most essential jobs.” EQUIPMENT PROVIDED Girls in the Women's Land Service are provided with attractive uniform: and equipment by the authorities. Instead of gumboots there is a pair of wooden-soled clogs, with soles thick enough to keep feet dry in most cowyards. And. to keep to the strictly business part of the outfit, there is a working hat, a sou'-wester, three overalls, a pair of leggings, three pairs of socks, three khaki shirts, a leather jerkin—a stout but simple protection from even a southerly wind —and two pairs of boots. So much for the land girls’•working hours. The leisure time has not been overlooked. For these she is provided . r with a felt hat and a box to keep it in. an attractive costume, a beret, a pair of shoes, two pairs of stockings, two blouses, a tie. a pair of gloves and a great coat. On the shirts the words "Land Service” are shown, and there arc four sets of insignia, a badge and a brooch by which the wearer can indicate her association with an important service on the home front. All articles in the outfit, are made of first-class material and their cost, If made privately, would be nearly £4O. It is a uniform any young woman can be proud to wear, not because of its appearance but because of what, it indicates as a personal war effort.