CORRESPONDENTS' VIEWS

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIII, Issue 177, 29 July 1942, Page 4

CORRESPONDENTS' VIEWS

PATRIOTISM AXD FINANCE (To The Editor) The lack of response to the Gov. eminent appeal to women to enlist in the armed forces is not surprising, though unfortunate. The reason is not far to seek, though we may deplore it The offer is not attractive either in the type of employment offered or in the rate of remuneration. The average young woman though patriotic, is shrewd, and weighs her patriotism in the balance against practical considerations. Nor is she to be altogether blamed for this She is only human and sees well-paid and more congenial jobs offering freely and naturally hesitates to commit herself for the duration" to work she dislikes at an inferior rate of pay. And before condemning such an attitude we must take into consideration the fact that many women's circumstances are such that they feel they cannot afford to ignore the practical side, though if they tpok the long view thev must realise that the really practical thing to do is to throw evervthing into the war effort regardless of lesser considerations. War is an uncompromising business and few frills are attached to its grim duties, but whether it is possible to arrange some stronger form of appeal to women to join up in greater numbers is a matter for the powers that be to consider seriously before they resort to conscription of women-power. ISABEL M. CLUETT.