WOMAN VOLUNTEERS

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 5, Issue 18, 18 February 1942, Page 8

WOMAN VOLUNTEERS

GIRL WALKS THREE THOUSAND MILES TO JOIN UP WITH A.T.S. Many girls, wives and mothers of the Dominions have come 3000 miles to jodn the A.T.S. They have given up joys of home, children, career, and oil comforts of life in a country where there is no rationing and no raids. This is the challenge which the women of the Empire are giving to the thousands of girls in Britain who will not even walk down the street to their recruiting office to Join up. There is only one answer to this challenge. Before Christmas 30,000 women must give up their easy jobs, leave, their comfortable homes, and abandon their retreats in the safe areas. Before next June another 100,000 woman must be in khaki.

They will not be asked to make the same sacrifice as these women from overseas for whom week-end passes and seven days' leave can never mean a visit home who for weeks at a time may be cut off from even postal communication with their families. Came 3000 Miles Here is a story that will shame all the women who prefer a private hotel in the country to an A.T.S. camp, all the childless young wives who choose to live at home in idleness, instead of doing a soldier's job:—When the A.T.S. appealed for ,100,000 women last June Mrs Phyllis Arnaldy was living at home with her husband and t'woi schoolboy sons in Toronto. She decided that her place was in the Women's Army, and she came 3000 miles to join up. For a month Private Arnaldy has been driving in the A.T.S. She is so efficient that she will soon be recommended for a commission. Private M. K. Price, whose father commands the 3rd Canadian Division, is now one of the best A.T.S. drivers in her company. She left Canada to join the A.T.S. and was cited for gallantry when the Cafe de Paris was bombed. There are many more like these. Not Fast Enough In England the blitzed towns are setting an example to the rest of the country. London tops, the recruiting list'. But recruiting is still not fast enough.

Last May 700 women were enrolling eve it week. A month later this figure had more than doubled. Since then it lias risen, but it must be 100 per cent better. Nine out of every ten women who enlist now will be put on non-do-mestic work. 1 here is a good chance