A Men's Committee on Women's Services
In appointing a committee to examine welfare conditions in the three women's services commonly known by their initials. the A.T.S., W.R.N.S. and W.A.A.F., the Government have recognised that the ,question has caused a great deal of public anxiety, and that it must be probed. But no wonder women Members of Parlia- ment protested when it was announced that the committee was to consist of four Under-Secretaries, all of whom were men. Why not, asked Miss Cazalet, have an all-women's committee to inquire into amenities in the male services? The absurdity is as palpable in the one case as in the other. If it had really been desirable to appoint nothing but Under-Secretaries the Government might have included Miss Florence Horsburgh, Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Health. But the inquiry is not one which should be conducted by merhbers of the Government—who are responsible for the existing conditions. In attempting to do the right thing the Government have chosen the wrong way. If the public mind is to be set at rest a different committee must be appointed' consisting of independent investigators, a substantial proportion of them women.
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