"THE DEBT OF HONOUR."
[TO THE EDITOR Or THE ' SPECTATOR."] SIR,—Each day lists are published of those who subscribe to this "Debt of Honour." but those. whose duty it is to make one of the largest contributions seem strangely unwilling even to see this need. When war broke out the women of the country were asked to fill the places of men called to the front. but the stipulation, now largely forgotten, was that these pests were only to be held until the men returned. We all know in how many cases these posts are still held by women, who do not appear to see the urgent need of giving them up. If every woman now employed at work suitable for the ex-Service men were forced to relinquish it the pathetic ranks of un- employed ex-Service men would very quickly diminish. Mean- time, women really have no right to posts which ex-Service men can fill, and I sincerely hope that before long we will find public opinion is eo strongly against their doing so any longer that it u-ill become impossible for them to hold these. Equal Pay and hours for both men and women would do much to remedy the evil, for so long as women will work for less than men there will always be employers mean enough to take advantage of this. The whole community is more or lees handi- capped because of the shortage of women's labour in their own special spheres, eo there is little or no fear of unemployment for them, but so long as they are allowed to remain at their present posts they will never return to their proper work, and the home-life of Britain will suffer irreparably. Our first duty is to our ex-Service men; let us pay it by
PLAYING THE GAME STRAIGHT.
Previous page
