INDUSTRY AND MOTHERHOOD.
(To THE EDITOR OF TUE " SPECTATOR:1 SIR,—The Women's Industrial Council is undertaking an inquiry into occupations and conditions of occupations likely to prove injurious to girls or women as prospective mothers. At present, although a good deal of information bearing upon this point must exist in official records and in the private notes of medical practitioners, none of it has been so collected and collated as to be readily accessible. Yet the guidance of ascertained facts would be of great service to parents, teachers, and advisers of girls entering upon industrial occupations, as well as to women workers of all grades, and ultimately to the country at largo. Tho difficulties of the inquiry will obviously be great, but the methods employed in a somewhat similar American investigation furnish useful suggestions, and the officials of two Government Departments have kindly promised advice and assistance which will be invaluable. Our aim is, primarily, to ascertain facts; and, secondly, to agitate for the alteration of any unsuitable conditions which may come to light. As a general principle we think the prohibition of any particular employment for women undesirable, but if there does exist any employment likely to injure women as mothers we think it important that the facts which make it so should be known to women. How far we shall be able to carry our inquiry will largely depend upon the amount of financial support which the Council receives from the public. Surely for a purpose of such national importance we shall not appeal in vain.---We F. V. M. TAYLOR, Secretary.
Women's Industrial Council, John Street, Adelphi, Strand, W.C.
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