31 MARCH 1944, Page 12

DOMESTIC SERVICE

SIR,—May I draw attention to a suggestion in L. J. Cadbury's article "The Population Trend" that is positively dangerous? He (I hope not she) declares that the " directing " bf labour into domestic service should be carried over into peace-time. If such a thing were done it could be merely "forced labour" under another name and tyranny of the Nazi kind. This "direction of labour" is one of the things brought about by "the war that is very hard to bear ; it is incredible that anyone should calmly suggest its continuance. That domestic work is most' necessary is obvious, of course, but not forced domestic labour. Could any woman contemplate working her house with such help? Let the conditions be made such that women will be drawn back into work that can be made satisfying to many.

If any' sort of direction should be contemplated, I suggest it, is done by means of a year's labour service in a uniformed, conscripted national service army, in which every girl of every class would have to do her part. The fact that it was only for a year, was national, and was uniformed would make it acceptable to thousands who would bitterly resent any other form of direction. If you could, give publicity to this letter I should be glad, as I feel it vital that L. J. Cadbury's suggestion should not be passed—though, of course, you may have scores of protesti