Distribution Of Uniforms

Press, Volume LXXIX, Issue 23977, 18 June 1943, Page 4

Distribution Of Uniforms

The protest by the secretary (Mr P. R. Climie), on behalf of the Canterbury Progress League, against the distribution of uniforms to noncombatant men and women doing clerical work in the armed forces is well founded. Unquestionably, for most work in the armed forces the issue of uniforms to men and women is desirable, for disciplinary and other reasons; but for clerical work no more discipline is required than is necessary for the employees of any other State department. The provision of uniforms on a lavish scale is therefore anomalous and wasteful both of material badly needed for other purposes and of the manpower required to produce it. At one time there was an actual shortage of uniforms for men in the fighting forces while uniforms were freely being issued to office workers and women. Moreover, women who

had offered their services to the Women’s Land Army were going out to their work in clothes provided at their own cost and from their own coupon supply. They were not compensated for the loss of the coupons or for clothing worn out. That hardship has by now probably been corrected by the issue of an adequate supply of suitable clothing; but it illustrates the fatuity of a system which does not put first things first. There may be something in the argument that uniforms make service work more attractive; but that difficulty could be overcome a great deal less expensively and more simply by applying to women’s service in the armed forces the same compulsory principle as is applied to men’s service and to service in industry. The latter is equally patriotic service, though possibly not as attractive, as clerical work in some branch of the Army, Navy, or Air Force. In all such matters common sense and reason should be the guiding principles. While badges and uniforms are the outward and visible signs of national servic6, who will say that they always cover the person who serves best? Many would prefer to do their duty without displaying such witness of it.