OCCUPATION ,‘ NONE " SIR,—As a woman who may soon
be asked by the Government to state my occupation, I have been wondering what I shall say. Up to now, in reply to the question "occupation," I have said "None," not because I had none, but because I have several and there has never been the space on any form to list them, nor do I quite know how some of them could be described. I am a painter and gardener, amongst other things. Now I realise that, if, once again, I say "None," I am going to be given some excellent, well-paid job in a factory. I have no objection to the idea of working in a factory, it would probably be a most interesting experience ; but what I ask myself is, will the country as a whole benefit by putting its few countrywomen and very few artists into factories and Army Offices, &c.? Does the Government wish, for the time being at least, to suppress all but a handful of artists?
One notices that films have been more or less a reserved occupa- tion and that entertainment is still maintained, but I have seen no reference to the work of architects, designers, craftsmen and artists, on whom depends not only a large part of our cultural life, but also cenain branches of our export-trade and civilised status in the world. This country is not over-rich in artist-craftsmen. Our productions, for the most part, are characterised by their extreme hideousness. Thi= may not worry the average English mind, but it is a serious matter when our export-trade is considered. There are probably many people like myself who may only be capable of giving a small contribution to society, but though not in the class of such great Women as Grace Lovat Fraser, Victoria Sackville-West, Laura &c., I believe that our smaller contribution has a very definite value. This sounds rather like blowing one's own trumpet, but it seems to me that society is unlikely to blow it for us l—Yours
faithfully, JOAN BROOKE. Grimstone Manor, Gilling East, York.
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