WOMEN HELP TO WIN THE WAR.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 5, Issue 169, 28 April 1916, Page 3 (Supplement)

WOMEN HELP TO WIN THE WAR.

WOXDERFI.L SUCCESS IX SHELL,

.FACTOR IKS. MR LLOYD GEORGE ISSUES BOOK OF PHOTOGRAPHS. To-day. says n London paper of Feb. 25th, is pulilislit'd liv the Ministry oi Munitions a lavishly illustrated volume intended to show the extent to which women are employed in the manufacture of munitions of war. The letterpress and the illustrations are primarily meant for the instruction and guidance of engineer employers and artisans, hut they have an intense interest for the general public aKo, and one ventures to predict for the piihlicatinn a large sale. Its pictures, depicting women in charge of lathes, drilling machines, cutters, grinder's. planers, slotting machine-, etc., hring home to us as nothing else does the adniirahle maniii r in whi<'h women have come forward in th's crisis in our history to assist in the production of munitions of war. Engineering doe- not leap to. the eye as a specially suitable feminine industry, but in'spite of novel duties and an unfamiliar environment the women in our engineering factories are doing grand work and displaying a zeal and an adaptivencss that cannot I>,' too highly commended. From all side-, in regard to various war activities, comes the report: "The women are splendid." According to the Ministry of Munitions, "timekeeping in the factories employing women on projectile work is excellent, the record being so good as to mako it difficult to express lost time as a percentage." Yes, truly the women are splendid. MR. LLOYD GEORGE'S PREFACE. Tn a preface to the volume the Minister of Munitions savs :

T!ij; book has been prepared by an export engineer, who, at my rcflllfvst, visited workshops in various part, of the country where the dilution of skilled labour is in actual operation. _ It .illustrates some of the operations which women, with the loyal co-operation and splendid assistance of the workmen concerned, arc performing in engineering shops in many parts ot the kingdom. The photographic records and the written descriptions of what : s actually being done by women in munition factories, on processes hitherto performed solo'y by skilled men. will, 1 believe, act as an incentive and a guide in many fac-. Tories where employers and employed have boon sceptical as to the possibilities of the policy of dilution. Being convinced that until that policy i.-j boldly adopted throughout the country we cannot provide our armioi with such an adequate supply of munitions as will enable them io br'ng this w.ir to an early and

successful conclusion, 1 very earnestly commend this book to the iiiofet serious consideration of employers and employed. The thanks of the Ministry of Munitions are due to the gentleman who prepared the book, and to the firms who granted him facilities for the photographs to be taken, or themselves supplied the negatives. 0. Lloyd George. J; unary

WOMEN AS SHELL MAKERS. The letterpress is full of helpful hints for managers of engineering shops. Jn regard to the manufacture of Impounder higii-explosivo shells, it is pointed out that women satisfactorily perform drilling operations on shell bodies Skilled men having been drafted to more highly-skilled work, their place; were n the first instance taken by unskilled men, who in process of time qualified for a higher cl:;ss of work and were themselves then replaced as drillers by women. The output of drilling machines in charge of women has been maintained, and the women complain of no fatigue or difficulty in doing the work. Equally satisfactory have proved tho women who are in charge of lathes Nor is it surprising to learn that "a class of work in which women have been very successful" is the inspection of the finished shell.

Difference of opinion exists among.st engineers as to the employment of women on shells of 6-inch calibre and upwards: but the experiences of thoso etnpbying woman labour on large shell bodies is that the actual cutting operations demand no greater strain from the operator than do those on smaller shell. But for the lifting in and out of these heavier shells weight-raising devices are employed, so a.-> to prevent any physical strain.

IT PAYS THE .MAX TO AGREE. The numerous separate operations in projectile work and the fact that special lathes and machines are in use, maKe sub-division of labour imperative, and so render it easy in these establishments to utilise tiie services of women. Jn the general machine shop, however, the position is different. Hut even in factories of this latter type women s labour lias been introduced with sue cess. It appears that the woman in theso cases works mar to a skilled workman who is responsible tor the two machines. "The total price paid for the product of the two lathes is rho same, as was originally paid when two men worked these two machines. Lie man gives the woman every possible assistance, and when the total earnings of the two machines are distributed the division is such as considerably to increase the normal earnings of the male worker."'

Fuse-making factories are peculiarly suitable to tin- occupation of women, .'.nil in the majority of thorn it s cli.ofly women who do tlio work.

KOJI THE WAR ONLY. A -ection of the volume is devoted to illustrations depicting the training in in.tie munition workers in the use of tools. These men. many of them draw a from the middle i lasses, wore not engaged in actual production when they began iheir course. " Hence every one oi them is a new roenrt to munition work, and their employment involves no economic dislocation." Aftt r th- 1 war tin y « ill proliahly revei i to their o'd voeations. Those training das « - are usually conducted in t.vlmi al s.hools lent for the piirjxi-o l>.\ the local < din at ion a uihority. Tin- highly instructive volume i- sold at Is. The photographs used in it. and many others illustrating munition pr>i es-'Os. in-,, at the service of linns , ,Mi--idoring the dilut.on of lahour, and c in '"■ e\aiui 'n! at the oflii ;■ a) the .Ministry of Munii'ons.