GIRLS AND THE WAR

Wairarapa Times-Age, 21 June 1940, Page 4

GIRLS AND THE WAR

FORMATION OF EMERGENCY CORPS PLANNED IN MASTERTON. ORGANISATIONS AND TRAINING PROPOSALS Feeling that women as well as men should pay their part in the present crisis in the history of our country and Empire, girls employed in a number of business houses in Masterton have formed the nucleus of an organisation which it is hoped to build up to a considerable strength—.a body of girls who will be trained to undertake and carry out useful and helpful tasks in the days of difficulty that lie immediately ahead. Plans have been shaped and a preliminary organisation set up and at an early date a meeting is to be held at which all girls prepared to take part in the movement will be given an opportunity of doing so. “We feel,” a statement by the promoters observes, “that as in time of peace wc claim an equality of status with the men of this country, so in time of war there should be equality of effort. If the men of our country enlist for active service, we must be prepared to look after their families and keep things going while they are away. To this end we have formed the nucleus of the Women's Emergency Corps, so that we shall have an organised body of girls who can be relied upon to answer any emergency which may arise; girls who will be prepared to volunteer to do any task which the committee may consider to be in the interests of our community and country.

“This organisation is not to be formed in opposition to any of the patriotic institutions already in operation, but rather as a tested and dependable tool which will be at the disposal of these bodies. The combined energy and enthusiasm of a body of girls must become an appreciable factor when we consider the power waiting to be harnessed in some definite direction.” The immediate aims of the organisation are as follow: — (1) General Service scheme —To place our services at the disposal of any public body working in the interests of our country and the Empire. (2) First Aid Scheme —To induce as many of the members as possible who have not already taken a course to undergo training in this direction. (3) Mechanics Scheme —To teach the girls to drive for transport work, and to give them a working knowledge of simple mechanics, so that in time of emergency they will be thoroughly capable. (4) Drill Scheme. —To run a drill class among the members to ensure that the girls keep physically fit to answer any calls on their physical strength. (5) Produce Scheme.—To obtain the use of vacant sections in the vicinity of the town and use them for the purpose of growing vegetables to supply institutions and necessitous cases, girls to have practical instruction in this direction. This scheme will help the girls in (a) of Scheme No. 6. (6) Home Scheme —To help and look after the families of the men who have enlisted on active service—a list of these people to be obtained from the authorities. Our services could be utilised in the following directions: — (a), in the gardens; (b), In the homes; (c), In taking care of the children to enable mothers to have some spare time.

Provisional rules have been drawn up. They provide, amongst other things, that no subject of a political or religious nature shall be discussed at any meetings of the organisation, that girls must pledge their loyalty and obedience in order to become members, and that all members must be prepared to forget their identity in order to work with unity of purpose.