Woman's World

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 118, 12 October 1914, Page 6

Woman's World

WOMEN AT WORK. \ CLOSING THE RANKS. SI'FFRAG ETTES CONCILIATED. London, August 20. One of the steps taken to conciliate

all (.'lassos of the nation and to present a united front to the enemy was the release by Mis Majesty of all suffragist prisoners now in custody. In announcing the fact in the Commons, Mr M'Kenna s;aid:—•

"I have advised Ilis Majesty to rcmil the remainder of the sentences of al' persons now undergoing terms of imprisonment for crimes connected with the sull'iagc agitation. This course na3 been taken without solicitation on tin ir part and without requiring any undertaking from them. I have also advireel

His Majesty to remit tiie sentences cf all persons convicted of assaults and ■other persons in connection with recent strikes. His Ma'jesty is confident that the prisoners of both classes wll respond to the feelings of their countrymen and country women in this time if emergency, and Chat they may be trusted not to stain the causes they have »t heart by any further crime or disorder.

THE WOMEN'S RESPONSE. The reply of the women to this Jet of clemency was immediate. The rt.S. l'.U. decide <l, in view of the grave crisis, in which the country is involved to suspend hostilities and activities for the time being, and most of the leading i'gures in the Suffragette world are already making themselves prominent in the various branches cf women's' work which war inevitably opens the way for. Miss Nina lioyle, head of the political

and militant" department of the Women's Freedom League, has written to the Home Secretary thanking the King u.r liis kiii-.l act of (en;iliatien, and adding: "Hi- Majesty's action has given strength to the natural desire of my league to give all the public service in its piwer at this time of* severe 'Ui- | tional (drain.''

The lirst fruits of the new women's movement is the formation of a Woman's Emergency Corps, in which Miss l.eua A.-iiv.'ell, Mi's Gertrude Kingston, and Miss Deeiimi Moore are the bailing

spirits. The corps is preparing r roll of women--2iioi> euro led in a couple of days —who are specia'lv qualified to a.::.ist ill a dozen dili'cnnt ways. They ullage lo drive motors, to lide or drive horse- - -, to take i"barge of hordes and stables, to take cure of chcches and kindergartens, to cook, to sew, to Kit as clerks, distributing stores, interpret, and do various other services. The rant:>; are open to all women, all classes, and even

anti-full ragists. The National Union of .Women Suffrage Societies is also making a register for the mobilisation of 00,009 women foi national service. Their work will be chiefly social, for the relief of distress clue to the war. The great prubleni of to-day is not to find willing helpers—but to direct the vast mass of voluntary work into useful channels and* to prevent over-lapping.