THE GIRL ON THE LINE.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XLI, Issue 11646, 14 August 1916, Page 6

THE GIRL ON THE LINE.

VOLUNTEER WORKERS FOR THE RAILWAY SERVICE. ‘ x GOD, KING AND COUNTRY I” j THE CALL TO DUTY. 1 r ' _ , /■"' j ‘ God, King and Country!’ Such is the proud and patriotic motto of the British Women’s Volunteer Transport Corps, one of the latest organisations which the nation’s supreme need has called into being. The Corps, as its title indicates, has a specific mission to fulfil. It is that of supplying strong, capable . girls to take the place of men, at present engaged in all sorts of transport work, who may have to answer the call to arms. In one especial sphere—that of railway work—their services will be particularly desirable, and already large numbers of girls have been drafted to duty on the ‘‘iron road’ throughout the country. The girls are drawn from every part of the country, from city, town and village, They are of the healthy, cheerful type—girls who have only responded to the call made upon them after the fullest explanation of the exacting and arduous nature of the work expected of them has been given. Several of the girls have arrived in Glasgow from the northern and eastern parts of Scotland, and are now on duty at various Caledonian stations. So soon as their probationary period is over, and they are appointed to a position, they receive wages ranging from 18s per week upwards, with 4s of war bonus. One phase of the Corps’ activity has been made amply clear by the officials. It is no purpose of the organisation to oust men from their positions. The girls are simply taking the places of men only when these a’e vacated, and the period of their engagement is for (he duration of the war only ‘‘RECRUITING” OF THE GIRLS

Apart from the labour aspects of the movement, it is obvious that many difficulties lie in the Way of the corps’ officials. There is the question, for instance, of the housing or lodging of the girls, many of whom will be leaving home for the first time, and also the guarding.and protecting of them. The most comprehensive and sensible methods, however, have been adopted by the promoters uf the scheme for. the careful watching of the members’ interests, personal and professional. In the “recruiting” of the girls their religions connection is kept prominently in view. When the corps official interviews a likely worker at her home, whether it be on the eastern seaboards or on some far western isle, the name of her pastor is procured. During the girl’s probationary period away from home she is induced to become a member of the local congregation of her own church, and the home pastor, together with the girl’s parents, are then communicated with. The girls health is also a subject of the closest soriitinv and care, and only lodgings which are known to the officials are selected for them.’

When the girls have, commenced work they are supplied with a uniform at once serviceable and indistinctive. A short divided skirt falls over elegant puttees, so that the wearers may not he inconvenienced in the discharge of their occasionally heavy duties of handling parcels, trundling barrows, or such like. As stated, the girls are hardy and healthy, and the performance of their work will no doubt be marked by the efficiency and smartness which have characterised that of the girls who have been at the railway stations for some time.