LAND GIRLS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 27 October 1943, Page 2

LAND GIRLS

+ AND DOMESTIC DUTIES NORTH OTAGO FARMERS’ UNION RESOLUTION Restrictions preventing land girls from assisting farmers’ wives in the house, and the type of publicity at present being given to the work done by land girls,’were criticised by the president of the North Otago branch of the Farmers’ Union, Mr J. Kingan, at the monthly meeting of the executive. Mr Kingan read extracts from an interview published in an illustrated paper, in which if was stated that a girl who had previously been employed in the Reserve Bank was now killing sheep. “As the father of daughters, I strongly resent this type of publicity,” said Mr Kingan, adding that while farmers could not ask land girls to assist in the houses the girls could kill sheep. “While a great deal of use can be made of land girls,” he said, “I do think that farmers’ wives should have assistance first.” (Applause). A motion that representations be made to enable land girls to be employed in the house for two to three hours daily to assist with domestic duties, was amended to the effect that the hours for domestic duties should be left open. One member said the restriction on land girls undertaking domestic duties was a slur on the farmling community. The amendment- was carried by a substantial majority.