As the months went on women began to be absorbed more and more into
industry. Men were going into the army ceaselessly, our war needs were
growing greater and our women found work opening out more and more.
The Women's Service Bureau had been opened within a week of the
outbreak of war and had done valuable work in placing women, before
the Board of Trade issued its first official appeal to women,
additional to those already in industry, to volunteer for War Service.
It was sent out by Mr. Runciman, President of the Board of Trade, and
read as follows:

The President of the Board of Trade wishes to call attention
to the fact that in the present emergency, if the full
fighting power of the nation is to be put forth on the field
of battle, the full working power of the nation must be made
available to carry on its essential trades at home. Already,
in certain important occupations there are not enough men and
women to do the work. This shortage will certainly spread
to other occupations as more and more men join the fighting
forces.

In order to meet both the present and the future needs of
national industry during the war, the Government wish to
obtain particulars of the women available, with or without
previous training, for paid employment. Accordingly, they
invite all women who are prepared, if needed, to take paid
employment of any kind--industrial, agricultural, clerical,
etc.--to enter themselves upon the Register of Women for War
Service which is being prepared by the Board of Trade Labour
Exchanges.