WOMEN AND NATIONAL SERVICE

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2613, 8 November 1915, Page 3

WOMEN AND NATIONAL SERVICE

GREAT MEETING IN LONDON,

Writing from London on September 9 "Alien," in the "Otago- Witness," says:—

The meeting of 3000 of tho women of England, representing the men on activo service, which was .held in. the Queen's Hall on Friday will be counted among the historic monster meetings that have been held there during these last historic years.. > The vast hall was crowded to the. doors, and every person there was there by right, and with few exceptions the right tnat husbands and sons and brothers conferred by service in the North Sea, in Flanders or France, and the Dardanelles. The, women were by no means all of London, but all parts of the country were represented! in the unique gathering, grave, quiet, earnest, and many in mourning, who' asked with no uncertain voice for equality of service for all. It was a wonderful audience—an audience that thrilled the observer almost to tears, for, it represented patriotism at its highest, tho patriotism that can sacrifice what is' dear as lifo, itself; the giving of which bereaves' life of joy, and turns it into existence, in many cases sordid. existence.

The two chief speakers, Lord Deninan (tho Governor-General of Australia whon compulsory servico for home defence came into operation there, and an officer on tho active list of the Army) and the Bishop of Birmingham, in khaki, as chaplain to tho forces, found a profoundly interested audience as they reasoned the justice .of universal service.

When tho cheers in honour of the heroes of ■ Gallipoli had subsided, Lord Denham continued: "Wo want here in England to-day something more than compulsory military service: the whole nation must be organised if we are to carry this war to a successful issue, organisation , hot_ only in tho Army, but behind it. Voluntary servico is haphazard, unfair, unequal. Many men," ho continued, "were torn between the conflict of public and private duty which would be decided for them." Invidious decision should not be left to tho individual man, he submitted, and as to the women, they would work their fingers to the bone if thereby they could contribute to the comfort or safety of our soldiers. Women are less tolerant of compromise than men, and at a time like this the value of compromise can be overrated.

Mr. Ellis Griffiths, K.C., an eloquent Welshman and Parliamentary speaker, carried his audience with him when ho 6aid that we know what women have gone through during the last twelve months. The voice of sorrow and suffering and sacrifioe must always be lieeded, and, in speaking of the familiar posters on the hoardings which the Government have used to appeal to women to use their influence to persuado men'to go, and of the picture of the elderly mother saying to her son: "Go. It's your duty, lad," ho said: "Tf it is right for p. mother to say "Go!" why does not the Government itself say 'Go' ?" To this the applause was long and loud. . Mrs. Archibald Colquhoun moved tliat_ the Women's Manifesto should be circulated from house to house. It is:—"Wo women of the British Empiro believe the time has come when every fit man should be made available for tli« fiKilting lino, or, if specially qualified, for national service at home during the war. _ And, further, we believe that tho time has come when the services of women should be fully utilised." The resolution was seconded by Mrs. Mary Gaunt, sister of RearAdmiral Gaunt, and carried with enthusiasm.