WOMENS' NATIONAL RESERVE.

Taranaki Daily News, 22 April 1916, Page 6

WOMENS' NATIONAL RESERVE.

I MEN AT THE COUNTER OR DESK. 'WOMEN TO TAKE THEIR PLACES. (From Our Own Correspondent). Welliiiuiri. April !S. "There are some occupations where men possessing ample strength for work in the trenches are engaged 'ii work that could easily be performed by women," said the Minister for Internal Affairs (Hon. G. W. Russell) to-day. "These men will have an early opportunity for forsaking the shop counter or the desk in order to take their turn at the front, since the Women's National Reserve will be prepared to provide qualified women to take their places here." The remark was made in connection with representations submitted to the Minister by a deputation from the Women's National Reserve. Dr. PlaitsMills and other members of the executive of the Reserve waited upon Mr. Russell in order to explain their plans for preparing a National Register for Women, as the basis for a comprehensive scheme of employment. They stated that the Reserve was convinced it could find thousands of women, not at present organised for war work, who would be prepared to take the places of men required for service with the forces at the front. The women of the Mother Country were taking the places of enlist-e-'i men in shops and offices, at railway stations, on tramcars, on the farms and in scores of industries. New Zealand women needed only the opportunity to perform their part also, and the Women's National Reserve had drafted a scheme for forming a' register of the women who were ready to serve in one capacity or another. When the register was complete, the Reserve would be ready to provide women workers where they were needed. "The whole of the work is to be left in the hands of the Women's National Reserve," said the Minister in explaining the proposal to a reporter. "The mem; bers of the executive had a general discussion with regard to the methods of operation, and they are going to prepare a definite scheme for my consideration. The arrangements are well in hand, and I hope that within a few days the organisation of the women of the country will begin. The women who are directing the movement have no fear regarding the response of the New Zealand women generally, and they believe that a register containing very many thousands of. names can be prepared rapidly when a start is made. "The first part of the scheme will be to provide thoroughly efficient and certificated lady stenographers, typists and clerks, who will be able to take the places of men who are leaving for the front. This will be of material assistance to those employers who have shown their patriotism by allowing members of their staffs to enlist, and, an even more important consideration, will release the men who have been unable to enlist up to the present time owing to the difficulties they would create for their employers. "The details of the scheme will be worked out within the next few days. Provision will be made for the issue of certificates of efficiency to registered women, through a properly qualified examiner, who probably will be a public officer. It is probable that the formation of training classes on a larger scale than has yet been attempted'will be undertaken. The women, of course, are .not going to work in honorary capacities. They will be paid at current rates by their employers, and a scale of wages will be drawn up by ftie National Reserve for their use. But they will be able to guarantee efficient service to employers -who at present are keeping young men in civilian work," The Minister added that the scheme would be developed in, other directions, which would be indicated later. New Zealand had provided some 30,000 men for military service already, and the number had to increase month by mouth during the period of the war. this call upon the manhood of the nation meant that the women must undertake an increased share of the work of the community, and he had not the least doubt that they were eager to play their part. The preparation of a voluntary National , Register of women would lie the first .step towards the creation of the necessary organisation.