The Dominion. SATURDAY, OCTOBER 7, 1916. WHAT WOMEN CAN DO

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2896, 7 October 1916, Page 8

The Dominion. SATURDAY, OCTOBER 7, 1916. WHAT WOMEN CAN DO

The war work which is being done >y the women of New Zealand deserves the praise that has been bestowed upon them. The many tasks they have undertaken liave been performed the utmost goodwill, and with an enthusiasm which never nags. Tliej are tireless in their efforts, to make the lives of our citizen soldiers as ■ comfortable as possible. -They are doing scores of very necessary things that Government Departments cannot dOj and each new appeal to their - .patriotism meets with a ready response. The success.of the soldiers'' clubs, is largely due to the energy and business capacity of our womenfolk. Ihc' time and thought which they i have given- to • the collection' oi money is in a large measure;responsible ior-the high totals which'the war-funds have reached, and there' seems -to bo no end to their resourcefulness in devising means for -But there is, more yct,in the way of.'war. work, which our womenfolk can do, and it is quite certain that the limit or their willingness, to assist the iimpire to overthrow its enemies nas not ken reached. Tli'o response pt ij- mcn to' l the call for soldiers, lias made it difficult in some instances to keep tho machinery of •industry and commercc moving at its normal speed.'. It will become increasingly difficult as time goes on. Many women have already sought and found employment in various businesses in 1 order that men may be set free to join the Expeditionary Force. But the demand lor lighting men is more urgent than ever, and when the Government begins to call civilians to the colours in accordance with the Compulsory provisions of the Military fed-vice Act the-need for women workers to ? ' , the va c a nt places in the industrial world will become greater than ever. It is quite time that tho Government made preparations oi an adequate and systematic kind lor solving the problem which is eing oreatexl by the temporary withdrawal of a large and steadily-' mcreasing number of men from the'ir orciaary occupations. . The, time; is-, opp( rtune. for the organisation ofthe women .of the community for business purposes When the. Appeal Boards are called upon-to consider the question of -''indispensability" which is sure to arise in many foriiis as soon men are required to show cause why-they should not-join "the colours, the -decision : will largely depend i.pon'definite knowledge as' to the quantity, and quality of fe-' . male labour that, will be availablo. Experience has shown that a good deal of the work which .is now being done in shops and offices by • men can be done by women, and, i'f ' 1 i lee ? should arise, women could also undertake certain forms tL i' m c r, u The w °m<=n's'National iv.serve has given some attention to these matters, and'■ the information it has gathered' is sure to L V6 - U "u u . 6 government, however, should, give the matter its attention cow instead of waiting until tho growing shortage of male labour has reached an acute stage, In England and France women have come .forward-in thousands to rS P J ,hln .^? oin t ß ,n commerce and industry while the men arc away at the front,', and the women of New Zealand are jiist as able and willing to show their patriotism in the same way when the call comes to them. Competent guidance and careful organisation arc, however, necessary in order to prevent waste of energy in futile and spasmodic efforts to S ; , new Bu PPlics oi labour which-Will be required in order-to-prevent a serious lessening of national efficiency. Some of the industries of Britain.would have been brought, to a' standstill, if'.itwere not for :the readiness of the Women to carry on .the ■ work of the - men who have gone to the front..'. Early i,! H ? SSC Uttt yoal '' if ' w - as estimated that about 150,000 " wpmqn woukl, bo wanted, to rep lace the men clerks who would be called up under Denny's schcmc. Vast numbers of women are being employed in . the. shell factories, and more, and still more, , arc needed.- < Many women' arc doing .what has nithcito been regarded- as 1 men'swork in shops, and offices, and factories. Women are being employed i as motor-van drivers, chauffeurs, ticket-collectors, carriage cleaners footmen, booking clerks, milk .deliverers, bookstall 'clorks, post-men. bakers,, electricians, tramway and

• oninib'us conductors. Those who riavo the necessary "qualifications are filling posts as tc'achers, draughtsmen, and 'analytical chemists. A leading -insurance company h s as appointed a woman as inspector. Many are helping on the land. Lord Selborne recently declared that if faimors would'mako fuller use of the services of women they would emerge triumphantly front the present crisis. He favoured a canvass of women in the same way the the men had been canvassed to enlist. The men'had come .forward because'their- imaginations' had been tiuiched, and there- was no reason why the response of tho women should not be equally great. A most entertaining, and really illuminating,. description of women's work in war lime appears in Punch'. Mr. Punch is much impressed,-.-by the •sighfc.-of. this "new :a-nd. capable type ofrcitizen, always in some responsible position, and,always alert and efficient.' He finds.,her. everywhere in the city, and "she has hardened [her soft hands through all weathers [and seasons in the labour of farm and field; grooming horses, tending cattle, guiding -the plough, -gathering tho hai vest.-" " The "proud and delighted'' •:Mb; ;■ Punch < thinks that - -it s almost-worth-having a war to •provis. what, stuff' our women are made of." If the women of New Zealand are ..given a fair chance of proving the stuff they arp made of we may rest assured that they will give a go.od account of themselves.