Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1915-05-11
DEPARTMENTS Or
BRITISH SERVICE
OPENED T0W0MEN
For First Time in History Sex
eS Are Placed on Equal
Footing in Matter Of. Work
ing for Government n

London, April SV.-Ali uepartmehS
OF the British government service are
officially thrown open to women Tor
the first time In a circular issued by
the cabinet through the board Oh
trade. The circular urges all govern
ment departments TO replace, wher-
ever possible, men employees OF milf
tarv age with women, and offers to
obtain suitable women substitutes FOR
various clerical and other poaltions,
through the government labor en-
changes
The circular follows up q recent
war office statement appealing for
the release of more government en-
ployes for the front. In this statement
Lord Kitchener was quoted II con-
fidently look to the heads OF depart
ments TO arrange by finding suitable
substitutes. for the necessary permits
sion TO be given freely TO their subor-
dinates who are prepared to join the
colors."
The board of trades circular points
out that "a large number of women
clerks have registered az the labor ex-
changes. and considerable numbers OF
these have already been engaged by
certain government departments. In
addition, a special register Is being
compiled of women who have slBnl-
fled their willingness to undertake
service during the continuance of the
war, TO release men for cOmbntant
duties This register already contains
1000 names, and will supply large
number OF women qualified 10 take
the place of officials who may be re-
leased"
Call for Women.
The board of trade has itself re-
leased over 1000 officials for the
army, and in a large number Of cases
their places have been taken by
women.
II remains to be seen what reply
will be made by the heads OF the va
rious government departments TO the
board OF trades circular Many OF
these departments have hitherto
drawn n line very rigidly against any
women employees. All Of them will
now make a careful survey of their
work and ascertain to what extent
men OF recruiting age can be replaced
with women.
II has been for years the aim of va
rious womens organizations To obtain
from the government an equal oppor-
tunity for both sexes in the governs
ment employ. The board of trade cir
cular Is regarded az an official dec
! laration that for the period OF the war
at least, the barrier of sex will have
no sanction from the cabinet
Sylvia Pankhurst the militant SUI
/ fragette, has had Il clash with Lloyd
George and the liberal government
over the employment OF women. The
chancellor, in reply to a letter from
her, promised that women doing piece
work would be paid the same rate az
the men were then getting, but said
nothing about time work. Miss Pank-
hurst then wrote him on that point
but received no answer. An indirect
reply was made, however. by Mr.. Ru-
niciman. NJ r., president of the board
of trade who said that no conditions
had been laid down by the govern
ment as TO time work,
Miss Pankhurst has now made n
statement to the press In which she
accuses the government of refusing
to guarantee women the same pay MS
men for time work, adding:
From the womcn's point Of view,
| Il Is unjust that women should be EN-
plOyed to do mems work At lower
rate; from the mems point OF view, II
| Is disastrous. Guarantees to take men
back into employment after the war
can never be enforced; and II any
proof of this is needed. we find II n
fact that promises by employers 10
make allowances to the wives OF
workmen who are fighting at tho
front are already being broken on
every hand