On This Day, 2 March 1917

Birmingham Daily Gazette

Friday 2 March 1917

WOMEN FOR FRANCE.

VIEWS OF BIRMINGHAM SOCIAL WORKERS ON SCHEME.

The issue of the official statement of the intention to employ women with our armies in France has caused much comment among social workers in Birmingham. “All that can say about is that can only believe the Army Council have made arrangements for women workers at the call of absolute necessity, and that I should trust they will guard to the fullest extent against the moral dangers which must be obvious to anyone.” said the Rev. S. M. Berry (pastor of Carrs-lane, who some months ago visited the troops), in an interview with a Gazette representative last night. “But,” added Mr. Berry,“I would not express any opinion against the employment of women out there.” From enquiries made in other directions it is evident that there will be no lack of volunteers. Forty-two hours are to constitute a working week, which, in the opinion of a well-known local social worker, is not too long, but she was not satisfied with the rates of pay offered for the various classes of work. “If the women workers have to cater for themselves,” she said, “they will find commodities very expensive indeed. The allowance of 6.d per week for personal washing is absurd.”

An important meeting of representatives of different women’s societies in the city and the counties of Warwick and Worcester is to be held to-night to discuss this question and similar kinds of work women are capable doing. The object of the meeting is, amongst other things, to obtain a list of names of experienced women in various areas to be forwarded  to Mrs. Tennant, who is organising the women under the National Service scheme.