1941-01-18 — Page 7

Second Section

Hongkong Telegraph.

Magazine Features

Britain's

Women Munition Workers

3

SATURDAY, JANUARY 18, 1941.

2

AN Interesting experiment in the training of British women munition workers is being carried out by the Ministry of Labour at the London County Comell's Beaufroy Institute, Lambeth. Here girls from all classes may be seen from eight o'clock in the morning unlit five o'clock in the afternoon undergoing ATI inicisive course of Instruction SUB fitters or turners.

The scheme was inaugurated by the London County Council. It hadĪ only been in progress three months when the Ministry of Labour, re cognising its value, took the centre under a wing.

AT the moment

seventy women are in training, but within twelve months this number will be more than doubled. Before tho eandidates are accepted for training, they have to satisfy Ministry officials as to their ago, suitability for the work and qualifications. Speaking generally, they comprise professional women who have lost their po cupations owing to the war and girls who have been engaged in luxury Arades such as hairdressing, dress- making, millinery, eto, Tho Kimilt in 50,

are

IN pleturé (1) we see a bajch of students dressed fn overalls leaving for lunch. Their keenness for the work is remarkable, and every week the Institute' las sending well-trained

women to reinforce the staffs of the munition factories. In many cases the girls are glad to be able to find remunerative work. They include several refugees from Channel Is lunde and France, Some of thero were destitute and lost all their belongings when France collapsed. In other cases the girls are under- going the training from patriollo motives.

PICTURE (2) shows Mins Laingo Lewis, a 22-year-old actress, at a shaping machine, and in picture (3) Mrs Evelyn Hilli is seen working one of the lathes. Before the war Mrs I was a laundry manageress in the "Empress of Bellain" with a staff of forty-seven under her control.

this capacity she has travelled 'eight: 1lmes around the world. When her training in munition work is com- - plated she hopes to get a supervisor's Job.

During the training the women re- celve a maintenance allowance of roughly $1 per week.. They aro given a mid-day meal and, up to a certain figure, travelling expenses are pald...

This is one of the earliest pf such, training centres for women to be established. It has proved sa Buc- cessful that others are to be formed.

WOMEN trainees,

some, wearing

Institute's

men's overalls, are seen in pictura (4)' engaged In the machine shop.