WOMEN AND THE WAR.

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2633, 2 December 1915, Page 6

WOMEN AND THE WAR.

Sir, —lii Saturday's issue of your paper there appeared a letter entitled "Woman's Part- in tie War," and signed by "Another Country Bumpkin." Now, Sir, I agree with "Country Bumpkin" in every respect, and she is quite riglit when she says families with no boys to send to the front would willingly send a girl. Well, I happen to be ; a member of one of those families. I liave two brothers; the elder is only lo years of age, while I am five years his senior, fit, strong, and healthy,. a fair shot, and rider, and like "Country Bumpkin" there. is' room for improvement. Now, Sir, why cannpt wo .ablebodied and strong young, women be trained for useful work at the front? We could be trained to fetch and carry (as "Country Bumpkin" says), to be hospital orderlies, to assist the postal service, to help the Army Service Corps, and no doubt there is other work that we could .do.. It is quite possible for us to do the above-mentioned work, if we were put through a good, solid training,' and the best and strongest picked. Why cannot an organisation be commenced at once, and within six months a fully-trained and efficient army of women could be ready for service anywhere? And think of the hundreds of men we could' relieve to do tllie more strenuous work that would be impossible for women.

. There are hundreds of fit and strong young women only awaiting a chance to help "our boys" at the front, and why can't weP We wittSh bur brave boys go away and come back wounded, wliilo we look on. Will not some one organise and train lis for duties t!mt ■wo can and' will do ? And then we will show them what New Zealand girls are made. of. As "Country Bumpkin" says, ft will be no disgrirc<i to the toys of New Zealand to send a trained squad of girls: in fact, it would be a great honour Tor New Zealand to offer a trained army of women to assist the brave sons of the Empire.

I will row end this letter, hoeing that abler pens tTiSir irrhro will take lip this matter, and not let it drop until something is done to organise and train tho able-bodied women of this country. Thanking you for your very valuable space,—l. am, etc., STILL ANOTHER C.B.