LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.
WOMEN AND THE LAND.
[TO THE EDITOR OF THE "SPECTATOR.'
Sra,—While economy is being preached to us on all sides, there is one obvious form of economy which cannot be sufficiently emphasized— that is, the saving of the home-grown food supply of this country. For this purpose very soon the only labour availible will be women's labour. All over the country the Government are enrolling the village women as part-time workers ; but certain departments of the work are better done by educated women, and many more of these are needed, and 'needed at once. The Women's National Land Service Corps has been asked by the Board of Agriculture to do all in its power to speed up the recruiting of educated women, and to procure for them practical short war-trainings on the land. The Corps can offer these trainings at fees of from 15s. to 25s. a week. It has also some free trainings at its disposal. One farmer writes that unless he can have ten women to work for him by the middle of April, he cannot " drop " any potatoes for this year. We hear of many farmers selling their cows to the butcher for want of milkers. It is unnecessary to labour the point. We want strong, healthy, educated women under thirty-five, fond of animals and outdoor life, to come forward and give their services as farm workers on the land, at the local agricultural rate of pay, for the duration of the war. Application can be made to the Organizing Secretary, Headquarters of the Corps, 50 Upper Baker Street, London, N.W.—We are, Sir, &c.,
Wnants (Chairman, Executive Committee). Canoreetz Gaosvexon (Hon. Treasurer).
[Here is a duty which no woman of sound health and not working already at some form of " indispensable " work should pass by. Our women, especially our educated women, are imbued with so fine a spirit that it is not necessary to point out how they will find their reward, not merely in the help given to their country, but in the work itself. Farm work is hard, but those who feel the glory of the sun and wind and the free air will bless the day when they heard and obeyed the call of the open field.—ED. Spectator.]
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