Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1942-10-21

as the WRACS, according to Mrs.
Irene Spry, a member of Canada's
War Prices and Control Board.
Speaking before the Women's
National Press Club yesterday at its
weekly luncheon at the Willard Ho-
tel, Mrs, Spry told how the WRACS
were organized in recent months
as an answer to an appeal by the
chairman of the Wartime Prices
and Trade Board to housewives
throughout Canada as price ceilings
went into effect. Following the ap-
peal, sent out by radio, representa-
tives of national women's Or
CARNATIONS conferred in Ottawa
with the result that Womens Re
gional Advisory Committees were
set up in every locality, she stated.
Hundreds of separate women's
organizations, organized for widely
/ differing purposes, are now working
, together for the first time, their
activities meshed in drive to
achieve a common national pur-
pose," Mrs. Spry said.
The first job of the WRACS was
cooperating with retailers in guard
ing ceiling prices, she explained.
Little blue books have been dis
tributed through the WRACS to
over $1,000 housewives, who mark
down the specific prices they pay
for brands and quantities." Mrs.
Spry added.
Although the records provide
check on any attempt to increase
| prices they are also a protection to
the great mass of retailers, the
| speaker continued.
They cut down irresponsible
charges OF lswbreaking and ru-
mormongering, she commented.
AT first the retailers didn't like it,
but they are now beginning to real
lie how the WRACS can help them.
They stop women from bothering
them" 3
Should a retailer be unable to give
satisfactory explanation to .
housewife regarding an increase in
price, she makes a report to her
WRAC, which in turn sends it to
10 the Enforcement Administration if
necessary, Mrs. Spry added.
A second responsibility shouldered
by the WRACS is with the ration
ing program, Mrs. Spry said. She
told how the WRACS obtained 3d.
900 women volunteers in LOG centers
who wrote out nearly 10000 900 ra-
ton cards in four days.
Another wider but equally i'm
portant task being carried out by
the WRACS is that of educating
public opinion to reject all tempta-
tions to overbuy and hoard goods"
the speaker asserted.
AS boarding house room is as
bad as any other type of boarding."
the WRACS are cooperating with
other groups in registering all liv-
ing accommodations not in active
use, she continued.
On the WRACS also rests the re-
sponsibility of preventing house.
hold waste, Mrs. Spry added.
ITO housewives belongs the ulti-
mate responsibility of conserving
our resources, OF making the least
quantity of manpower and mate
rails stretch as far as possible in
meeting minimum civilian needs"
she pointed out.
Finally it is the women who must
keep their families going cheerfully
and efficiently at a drastically re-
duced standard of living" she con-
Guided. ITO do this when bombs are
dropping or the invader is at the
gates of a city is in some ways easy,
as many things we consider ne
cessities would reveal themselves as
trif1es. To realize this when the
enemy is still distant requires a
quality and strength of imagina-
ton and self discipline which we
must possess If we are to meet the