MOTOR WOMEN ON THE TRAMWAYS

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2686, 4 February 1916, Page 6

MOTOR WOMEN ON THE TRAMWAYS

SYDNEY WOMAN VOLUNTEERS. Miss Sylvia Waugh is, as far as can bo ascertained, the first Australian, woman to volunteer to drivo a tram in order. to release a man to go to tho war. Miss Waugh cannot understand why there should be any objection on the part of the commissioners to allowing women to learn to drive tho cars. She thinks it would bo over so much easier work than driving a motor-car, and not nearly so nerve-racking. "You have a straight course steered for you on a set of rails ; and you havo not to bo thinking of which is the right and the wrong side of the road, nor dodging in and out of tho other traffic," said. Miss Waugh. "And anyhow, I don't seo why Australian women can't drivo trams when German women can. I for one think ivc are capable of doing as much as if not more than they!" Miss Wough's idea is born solely from the war. She does hot look upon tram driving as women's work at all, although she is sure that thero aro scores of Australian girls with a taste for mechanics who could and would do it, with quite as much success as the men, if they were given the opportunity. "Olio needs small powers of observation to note that most of the conductors and drivers of trams aro young men or men in their prime," says Miss Waugh, "and from the splendid response to their country's call already given from that body I feel confident that most of them are only waiting an opportunity to follow their companions' example." Miss Waugh thinks that if the women volunteered 'to do the men's work, demanded tho same wages, and out of them kept a small remuneration for themselves and gave the balance to tho men's families, and promised to vacato the positions on the mon's return, recruiting, would be very much stimulated. Miss Waugh recognises the fact that most of our trams aro built in such a way that tlie positions of conductors are only fit for young, agile men. But sho thinks there aro many other spheres in which women aro better suited at all times to tho . labour than men, She mentions ticket serving at tho railway stations, and serving behind counters in softgoods shops, or in nny shops. "However, it is all a dream I Wo would like to do things to lielp, and we could, if we were permitted, but tho Government will never allow us to. When tho members of tho Women's Liberal League went at tho outbreak of war and offered their services to tho Government in any capacis.v for the help of the Empire, _ tho Government said, 'Thank you, ladies'— nnd advised them to jjo home and knit," Concluded Miss Waugh with a resigned smile. Miss Waugh certainly looks self-reli-ant and capable onouL'b to do all she IniK volunteered and » Bfeat <leul nio. "Sunday sua,' 1