The daily progressive-miner. [volume] (Ketchikan, Alaska) 1915-1919, 1918-05-16
WOMEN FARM-LABOR
SPECIALISTS APPOINTED
FOR WORK IN NEW YORK

4 On "VtucH EdA iu-IaUOi SPSCLsilStS
have been appointed by the Food Com
mission of New York State, which will
pay their salaries and expenses while
they organize units of women workers.
/ The appointments were made at the
request of Charles d. Barnes, Direc-
tor Bureau of Employment. State In
iustrial Commission. Department of
Labor. New York. and will work under
him
The plan is to apportion the State
into six districts in land that is farmed
in III emost intensive way. In writ.
! ing OF the method of work, Mr.. Barnes
says:
One OF our women farm-labor spe-
e;alists goes into the district assigned
10 her and through one of our State
public employment Offices. as we'll as
. through farm bureaus and oranges, en-
deavors 10 discover the different points
where there is the most likelihood of
an opportunity for woman's unit. At
ter selecting some particular sections.
the farm-labor specialist interviews
the farmers in regard TO their attitude
toward using women help. Having
discovered q favorable section, the
farm-labor specialist will endeavor to
find a suitable house in which TO To-
cate the unit
After completing all preliminary ar
engagements, including the choice of a
proper supervisor for the unit, the
farm-labor specialist goes 10 the larg-
es, nearby industrial community and
through local organizations, such a,
the Y VI. c. A., the Y. ". c. A, the
House Defense Councils. and the mems
and women's clubs, seeks TO raise a
sufficient fund to organize the unit,
this amount varying according to spe-
cial needs. Having provided for cots.
tedding. and a general camp outfit, as
we'll as enough money 10 pay the gro
Gerry bills until payment for labor be-
gins TO come in. the work is turned
over TO the nearest State Employment
Office. where member OF the staff is
assigned 10 select the women who are
20 make UP the unit. which may vary
in size from Is 10 %
We are going to cooperate with the
Woman's Land Army Mr. Barnes an
nounces, in that We viii consider for
the units such women as have enrolled
in the Women's Land Army, but in all
cases We are going to reserve the right
10 decide on each individual woman
helping TO make up the unit No wo-
man under IS will be taken. We are
hoping that our farm-.a Dor specialists
may be able TO establish a number OF
units OF this kind, but we are going TO
work slowly and be very careful in the
selection OF women.
In sections where the farmers are
unacquainted with the work capable OF
being done by women on the farms,
they are still skeptical and we are
going % be careful 10 insure the sue
cess Of the units this year We are al
ready receiving from individual farm
ers with large estates requests for
small units of women. The farmer in
this case agrees TO see 10 the housing
OF the women and engages TO give
them full-time work on his farm or
possibly On the farm OF a neighboring
farmer who has gone in on the propo-
sition with him, in case OF this kind
we would send our farm-Ia Dor special
ist TO investigate the situation, TO see
If IT is proper place to send the wo-
men, and 10 see that they were going
10 receive ample wages"