The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-05-11

sponse it will be seen from the table there was considerable influx of re- cruits. this being greater in. England and Wales than in Scotland. which showed a steady decrease until the summer of 1918. This is practically explained by the fact that in the latter country the number of farmers wives and daughters who work on the farms has always been much larger than in England and while the war demanded all the women it could get for unusual duties, these female rela- tives in the north "carried on" as effi- ciently as they could under the cireum- stances
 It was not until early in 1917 that the women's national land army was formed and the recruiting of women for the work on the land started in a system atic way. Since then the terms of en- lstment have been made definite and rigorous and the training of the recruits developed along proper lines. Women are drafted into one of three services to the forage section under the war of flee, to the timber cutting section under the board of trade, or onto farms. where they are employed by the farmers under the control of the board of agriculture. From the reports on womens s work on the land, sent in from all parts of the country, it is proving most satisfactory and though the women are mainly em- r,oyed in milking dairy work, cattle tending and light general farm work they are beginning to plough and fill the post of shepherds more than passably well. Indeed in several districts tractor ploughing schools are established and farmers already commend the work done by women with tractor ploughs, disc harrows and cultivators.
 In commercial occupations where ir July 1914, 49e.oO0 women were employed ..ef -t1N n.14 increase of S54000, all but 2,oo0 of whom are directly replacing men.
 The analysis of the hospital figures is worth noting In July. 1914 SS,000 wom- en were employed in hospitals and that number has increased to 10000. The in- CT ease is noticeable in connection with those institutions that dealt with war cases. For instance, the number of women in war office, admiralty and ter ritorial hospitals before the war was TOO It has now risen to 13,600. The number employed under the Red Cross society and St Johns Ambulance association has risen from $500 to 2S,6
 In finance the figures are as striking. Before the war women were employed in very small numbers in banks. Now against the 1,50o of July, 1914, there are S7, 600 In insurance for the 1000 em- ployed before the war there are 8, 300. In the transport services women are engaged in work which before the war was exclusively confined to men. Most of those at work on the tramway, om- nibus and electric train services are acting as conductors. though womer drivers in certain districts are not un- common On the municipal tramways the increase during the war is from l,2o( to 1S,S00; on private tramway compa- nies from 200 to $500, and on the omni- bus services from 300 to 4,a0.
 On the railways whereas before the war women were engaged mainly as clerks, now they are ticket collectors inspectors, light porters and cleaners The numbers have increased from 12,oV to 65 900, the additional women practical I ly all replacing men.