Evening star., 1918-04-11
WOMEN CAPABLEDF
EFFECTIVE FARM v
An Urgent Appeal for Their =
Here as in Englana Tras1
and Italy,

To the Editor Of The Star: =
The lack of knowledge-displayI
Labor Department onicialA ~ sv1<
by an article in your iss1s Of ~
on the farm labor question wes
laughable but for the critical nat
the situation and the disastrous
such short-sighted poliey. win
upon the food productisn suppl
must. of course. be taken into q
Grafton that the employment ssts
in its embryo stages. With few
as yet opened, and for Lack OF -.
experienced workers is bsfng sta
men lacking through training h
problems affecting agricslturs q
dustry, knowledge of 1hs eoz
processes governing operations Ell
exchanges and not cosiyersant
fundamental farreachinO. develop1
which during the course OF IN
have taken place amofS tho
nationA Had national ond loci
ployment officials taken she tro1}
keep abreast and inform fhemoGt{
to war conditions they whuld haN
itated before making such egre1.
incorrect statements which
categorica1ly to refute.
In regard to the practical uttIy
women on the land ninq monthD'
the outbreak Of war BritiSh authol
taking long-range views foreonZ
necessity for immediate. mobalt1
training and employment.of wom1
the farms, both to secuee hightI
Client labor and to provfqe the r.
with the necessary eafeguHrd1|
standardizing Vof essential cons
The government. therefore, creo1
network of national mathinerys
arrangements for training OF n
and provision OF maintenanco
training and waiting forpoeittonq
fit equipment and travelling exp1
At the outset exhibitions werol
throughout country Districts to
onstrate to farmers theaefnciene
capacity with which tho woman
handle every branch OF fNrm WorS
Last year the British ERvernmo
in it's employ just 260,0eo wuGne
number being Increased fAis year
proximately 100000. and woHzo0I
Just been trained to drive heavy
tors to carry on plough1ng ~ y
Examina tions conducted- BY -
experts at the end of 1917 pfDv4|
the general health stamina Of a.
workers has improved through ~
door life and regular conditions q
ployment.
The attitude of the farj0erD ~
come one Of keen appreoea tton q
workmanlike qualities and cCu4
tious ability displayed by, the "
The minister of agriculture ha4
peatedly stated that but fer her
ems army on the land Great "a
would have been disastroAsly ms
by famine. The whole of the aG4
tural labor in France is perforIn(
women, with the aid of young
and a few old men. Italy alDo|
largely increased her womAu'A
laborer.
Following last years experiene|
Canada. wherF from 5000 to
women at an emergency, call g
out for work on the land the q
growers' Association, in concert
other important farming and
growing associations, fssased =
festo to the government urging, e.
other plans, immediate mbbiliBa13
women for work on the land: 90
tural colleges have already been
ing women in farm mechanics, 81
all kinds of machinery land -
work. With reference torthe im1
antagonism of farmers tx womn<
Dor, l have had opportunities thfo]
of personally meeting and discu
the matter with the pres4dents
Farmers National Congress and
eral Farm Board, with the deput
to the President representing twe3
lion farmers and with other -
sentative groups of agricultur1
east and west, who have shown d
belief that American women Will
the same ability to SUCCESSFULLY
form work as women ofthe allte4
tions; are conscientious and De-
able, and can procure striking ~
in the food production campaagn3
to upholding the armie& and The
umphant issues Of the var.
The camounage of the 1Abor OQ
ment officials in regard q the -
ness of the farm labor 9ituAtio4
for handling Il
not be allowed to imperu the ~
food supply.
The Russian breakdown IL . z
ing example OF the resulfa OF So
Of cereals and foodstuffs an0
of a whole nations ~
and powers Of resistance.
ETA ST. JOHN WILE1l