2 Day Nurseries Will Free Women For War Industry That women of Vancouver, if relieved of family cares, could play a big role in helping to win this war by releasing thousands of men for Canada’s armed forces, was the main theme of a successful conference organized by the Housewives League = here last week. Opening of day nurseries through- out the city would solve one of the biggest problems, fifty delegates present unanimously agreed, and they elected a committee to consult with the Council of Social Agencies and consider plans for establish- ment of a “demonstration day nursery.” Pointing out that hundreds of wo- men are now working in industry, Mrs. Jean Bird, chairman of the Housewives’ League Day Nursery Gommittee, said that very soon it swoula be necessary to call upon married women between the ages of 20 and 24 to fill gaps created by the call-up of men for the armed forces. Many women in this group have pre-school children, and until some way to care for their children can be found, it will be impossible for young mothers to contribute as much as they otherwise could to Canada’s war effort. Mrs. Bird urged that steps be taken immedi- ately to deal with the situation so that when the need arises there will be no delay in mobilizing all available forces of women. Report of a “test survey” cov- ering ten-blocik areas in Hastings East, West End, Mount Pleasant and Capitol Hill was given y Mrs. J. Newitt, who declared that more than 350 women in these dis- ¢tricts had expressed a desire to work in either war or civil in- dustries if they could find ade quate care for their children. While Vancouver might not face the problem of supplying women for war industries to the same ex- tent as in eastern cities, many dele- gates expressed their conviction that women here could be employed effectively in civilian industry, such as the production, processing and distribution of food, transportation ef workers and other necessary services, so that men now working in these industries could be re jeased for heavier work. Admitting an increasing need for care of pre-school children, Miss Margaret Bradford, from the Coun- cil of Social Agencies, said she felt the demand was rapidly outgrowing available foster homes provided by the Vancouver Welfare Agency. She also felt that some supervision of older children after school hours was necessary, rather than allowing them to run the streets until their parents come home from work. Day nurseries should have a per- manent place in every community, was the opinion of Mrs. F. Mathews, another delegate, who declared that after the war women would not be willing, nor should they be ex- pected to go_back to their kitchens. OVER 40 YEARS Friendly Service to the Working Man of B.C, ‘Home of Day nurseries, she felt, could fur- ther aid in the emancipation of wo- men and would also provide the means of training children early in life the way to live co-operatively with their fellows. Efficient train- ing could be applied much better in this way than relying on parents to train their children in good citi- zensbip. There was no Jack of trained personnel for proposed schools, ex- plained Mrs. Bird, revealing that several people had communicated with her, offering their services and giving details of their special- ized training as supervisors of day nursery schools. The committee elected to plan for opening a ‘demonstration day nursery” consists of Mrs. Jean Bird and Mrs. J. Newitt from the Housewives’ League Day Nursery Gommittee; Mrs. Mildred Fahrni from the CCF women’s section; Mrs. F. J. Habgood, Mrs. F. Mathews and Miss A. Rosman. The committee has to consider such problems as care for small babies, provision of meals for all children, supervision of older chil- dren after school hours, and many other details. In most cases, the question of “how much will it cost” is not one which comes foremost to the minds of those interested, since England has such schools op- erating at a cost to each mother of approximately 25 cents per day. The Canadian government has the matter under consideration, and has stated that day nurseries will be subsidised where 75 per- cent of mothers are engaged in essential war industries. Britain now has 644 days nurser- ies operating, 70 of them in London alone, and 700 more under consider- ation. Those already in operation care for about 25,000 children be- tween the ages of two and five at a cost of one shilling (25 tents) a day for each child. Toddlers are cared for by skilled nurses and teachers. They are adequately fed and receive proper medical at- tention regularly, Expenses, obviously not covered by ‘the nominal fees, are borne by the government through local borough councils. In Canada some nurseries are al- ready operating. In the east where more women have entered industry, there are several, and one in Bri- tish Columbia. Some of these are privately operated by companies employing large numbers of ~wo- men, such as B.C Packers, which has just opened a day nursery for employees at its Steveston packing- house. This nieets the demand in cer- tain industries where women are concentrated, bret will not solve the general problem of women em- ployees in general, who are scat- tered in various types of work throughout the province. Only government sponsored and supervised day nursery schools will provide means of releasing thous- ands of efficient, capable women for the tremendous role they will be called upon to play in the near future. Barn or Shingle PAINT ROYAL RED Top Quality .. . $2.00 per Gallon © Mills’ 156 West Cordova St. Buy now while buying is good ! & 7‘ Women Play Their Part On Production Lines |e nurseries to solve the proble Women like these, working in Canadian war pl m of care for their ¢ more men for the armed forces. ants, are looking to the establishment of day 1 hildren while they are at work, releasing Teeter At aap i en EN eal Sl get ehtpeen ly Pe oul ee Steel Local. cently and Burrard Rivet and Forge Elected were Bob Paterson, presi- dent: Alex Reddington, vice-presi- dent; Miss N. Bagley, recording secretary; Miss L. Haynes, finan- cial secretary; Van Eden, treasur- er; and executive members Carl Hagman, McKenzie and Wheat. Collective bargaining relations have been established and it is be- lieved that the workers’ demands will be met. No basic wage increase is involved, object of the union be- ing to establish rates ef pay for overtime and holidays. Delegates were also selected to Vancouver Labor Council, on the basis of one delegate from each sub local. Firemen To Get Wage Increase NEW WESTMINSTER, B.C. Increases in cost of living bonus paid to all civic employees, and in the basic rate paid to first class firefighters, have been endorsed by the city council here. The firemen’s previous requests for clothing allowances were dropped. that an amendment be prepared by the city solicitor for submission to the next session of the legislature extending the civic franchise to in- clude wives of men paying more than $100 rent yearly. + HAst. 0240 766 E. Hastings Hastings Steam Baths Vancouver, B.C. Always Open — Expert Masseurs in Attendance 8 a.m. to 11 p.m... . 40c and 50c <5 100% Union House Meet Me at KING’S CAFE for a Square Meal! THE BEST OF FCOD Your Host .. GEORGE DRICOS 212 Carrall Street provisional slate of officers to serve for increased The council also recommended & PAc. 0634 Elects Provisional Slate Local -2765 of United Steelworkers of America (CIO), re- established at a meeting of four sub-locals comprising units from Western Steel, Pacific Bolt, Langley Manufacturing , at its first meeting elected a a period of three months. * Urges Imerease In Allowances EDMONTON, Alta—Increase in allowances for soldiers’ dependents and pensions on the insurance prin- ciple for men on active service in Canada, were advocated by Alex Walker, Dominion president of the Canadian Legion, in a speech here last week. Scoring the “means test,” applied }to all classes of dependents other than wives, he urged that depend- ents’ allowances be established “as a statutory right to all dependents of men in the armed forces of Can- ada.” Walker appealed to Prime Minis- ter King to delay no longer imple- mentation of the Legion’s Dominion Fred Grange Dies Suddenly In City ver recently. Coming to Canada from E land about 20 years ago, GC to work in the labor movement” 1936 be was jailed for his part unemployed struggles, and wi serving his jail term, develo severe stomach disorders. Inabi to procure proper food for his ¢ dition brought about a prolon ~ illness. ' A school teacher by profesi and an accomplished pianist, © worked in logging camps du the past few years and more eently was employed by Domiz Bridge. : Nomination Of Officers convention resolution, embodying these proposals. ; | : Friday, Nov. 27 — UNION HOUSE PAc. 7641 3 PM. } Meet Your Friends at the REX CAFE Ltd. “Where All Union People Eat” HOME of TASTY MEALS J. Mirras, Mgr. t 6 EAST HASTINGS STREET 1 ‘GRE Fishermen’s Hall — 188 East Cordova DOCK & SHIPYARI WORKERS _ TUNE IN the Weekly Labor Newscast — EN GOLD’ Station CJOR 600 Kilocycles Every TUESDAY — 7:45 p.m. with NIGEL MORGAN as Your Reporter ° Sponsored by the International Woodworkers of America (CIO)