PROVED THEIR METTLE

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 7, Issue 67, 26 April 1944, Page 7

PROVED THEIR METTLE

N.Z GIRLS IN PACIFIC

There is. 110 glamour about the arduous job of work being performed by the W.A.A.C's on duty in the Pacific which involves manifold tasks. The official war corresDoncln ent with the N.Z.E.F. tells us that from duty on the home front to active service in New Caledonia with the Kiwis is a test proving their mettle, and remonstrating that the New Zealand girl is as competently adaptable as any girl in the world. None of their duties are easy and anybody thinking in terms of glamour still has a lot to learn about island lifeIn the almost-completed Fourth New Zealand General Hospital one may find some indication of the range, and nature of the task underi taken by the W.A.A.C.'s. The girls commence, at 7 a.m. in a hospital ward, where bandages, pyjamas, linen, etc., are gathered and taken to a washing machine. They work with a morning tea break until noon and from 1.30 to 4.30 p.m.' A minimum of 20,000 articles is ironed weekly in the ironing room, where the girls have to stand over hot irons in a temperature of 95 degrees. Leisure hours are spent at the rivers, most of which are close to the camps, and debating is a Dopular pastime. Pictures are fairly regular, and disadvantages of the work are offset by comfortable living quarters at the Fourth General Hospital, where four girls share large wooden huts.