WOMEN’S WAR WORK.

Taihape Daily Times, Issue 208, 11 October 1916, Page 4

WOMEN’S WAR WORK.

(Special Correspondent ) - WELLINGTON, Octolfc 9 There are many Avomen in Welling ton, as there doubtless are all over tin Dominion, anxious to find some mon effective way in ‘Vilining the war’ than by knitting socks or selling but ton-boles at street corners, and witl the advent of compulsion they arc hoping their sphere of usefulness maj be 'Considerably enlarged. So far tb( women of New Zealand have been ad mitted to scarcely any of the more strenuous occupations their sisters at Home have entered in their thous ands since the demand for men fortbt fighting line began. A few hundred o them are filling gaps in public and pri vate offices, and a feAv score hav« taken other A'acant places, but tUc great volume of Avoman labour cap able of releasing men for the front Is still in reserve. Of course, it is th< manufacture of mnyiitions and otbei military supplies that the bulk of the neAv Avomen Avorkers are employed ii the Mother Country, but women an driving motor A 7 ans, delivering breat and milk, and groceries, acting as postmen, tramway conductors, elec i-i, ; - , ir'kW tricians and chaffeurs, and doing* i vast amount of farming and gardening work. There Is not one of these 6c cupations for Avhich the New Zealant woman is not at least as Avell fitted as her English sister is,and thejjjfe fs not one of them she Avould not gladlj undertake if she had the opportunitj to do so under proper conditions. Tb Dominion, perhaps as a coraliary t( its demand for more men, is urging: that women shonll be organised fortn with in preparation for services tbal may be required from them later on and really it is quite surprising the number of a\'ocations it is able tc enumerate as suitable to their pfay sical poAvers and the limitations o 1 their sex. The next move sbdulc come from the Avomen themselves Avho have everything to gain fay indicating in a practical way their readiness to take up the men’s home burdens.