WOMEN'S LAND CORPS

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 5, Issue 3, 14 January 1942, Page 5

WOMEN'S LAND CORPS

ENROLMENT COMMENCES

ACTIVITIES IN \VIIAK ATANE

In almost every town of any size in New Zealand there is a district office of the Women's War Service Auxiliary, and already these district offices are enrolling women and girls* for service with the Women's Land Corps. Enrolment may now be made in Whakatane.

Experience at farm work of any kind is not necessary before a gill or a woman can qualify for service with the Corps. It is only necessary that the applicant shall have attained the age of eighteen years and be suitable as to health and character for the work involved, and naturally acceptance Of applicants is being restricted to those who are physically able to engage in sustained light farm wor!' and who give good reason to believe that once having undertaken this form of national service they will persevere in it despite the little disappointments which are bound to be encountered in more or less degree. Full Time Employment As soon as possible after applicants have been accepted for service with the Corps they are being placed in full-time employment upon those phases of farm work which are deemed to be within the capacity of, and suitable for, female workers. Of interest in this connection is an oflicial stipulation that Corps members may be placed only on those farms where there is at least one mal» able and available to. undertake the heavier farm duties. It is widely known that many young women, although keenly desirous of assisting directly in work for the Nation, are not in a position to do so on an honorary basis., The Women's Land Corps gives to such women the opportunity to do valuable w-ork for the Dominion without undue hardship.

Basiis of Payment A commencing minimum wage, amounting to 35/- per week in the cases of Corps members engaged on dairy farms and 30/- per week in the cases of those employed on other farms is being paid. Alter six months' service women working on dairy farms are paid a minimum of £2/2/6 per week and others 35/-. Free hoard and lodgings are of course supplied by the farmer. The first set of overalls required by a member wili be supplied free of charge by the Lands Corps, and after one month's satisfactory service a free uniform and cap will he issued.

Accommod at i on Metabers of the Corps, will not be expected by the Women's War Servicel Auxiliary to work on any farm where accommodation and working conditions are not reasonable or where employers do" not accord members the consideration to which sincere and enthusiastic participation in the scheme entitles them. In this respect it is being especially emphasised to farmers that Corps members. representing all sections of the community are rallying to an urgent national call, and accordingly farmers and their wives ought to go a little out of their way in making allowances for inexperience and in offering some degree of home liie in place of the family and other associations which may have'been generously foregone by volunteers. Necessary War Effort On the other hand it is emphasised that membership of the . Land Corps carries with it definite responsibilities. Not the least of these is recognition that the Corps does represent a medium through which women carry out their desire to

play an important part in the war effort, not only by assisting in the production of important produce, but in freeing men from the primary industry for active service against the enemy. The dignity and worthiness of any calling enabling greater resistance to the nation's foes should need little stressing. If Corps members see their position in this light, and there is no doubt that the majority of them will, they too will undertake their work in a cheerful spirit of give and take and as long as conditions are reasonable will remain with their employers for a long period—wherever possible for the duration of the war. Where to Apply Full information in regard to the Women's Land Corps is obtainable at any district oli'ice of the Women's War Service Auxiliary. Applications in Whakatane may be made to either Mesdames F. ADallas or H. Burgess, the president and secretary respectively of the local auxiliary. Their respective phone numbers are 155 and 222.