‘Manpowered’ Women in the WW2 war effort – Hutt Valley

New Zealand :Volunteer for national service. The government offers every man and woman the opportunity of assisting in the war effort. Join a branch of the Emergency Reserve Corps - Home Guard ... Emergency Precautions Scheme ... Women's War Service Auxiliary ... There is work to be done. Join now! Apply to nearest town or country clerk. E V Paul, Government Printer, Wellington [1940] — E.V. Paul (Firm). New Zealand :Volunteer for national service. The government offers every man and woman the opportunity of assisting in the war effort. Join a branch of the Emergency Reserve Corps – Home Guard … Emergency Precautions Scheme … Women’s War Service Auxiliary … There is work to be done. Join now! Apply to nearest town or country clerk. 1940
E V Paul, Government Printer, Wellington [1940]. Ref: Eph-D-WAR-WII-1940-03. Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, NZ. /records/36098806

Hutt Valley women were among the New Zealand women recruited for the war effort during world war 2. In January 1942 the New Zealand Government passed legislation so it could direct men and women into work of national importance. Initially women aged 20 and 21 were ‘manpowered’. But by January 1944 women between the ages of 18 and 40 were also included. Women with children were exempt. Men aged up to 70 who had experience in building, construction, metal trades or engineering could also be ‘manpowered’.

Women joined the Women’s Army Auxiliary Corps (WAACs), Women’s Airforce Auxiliary (WAAFs), or they could choose to either work in factories or work on farms as ‘land girls’. Food, clothing and munitions industries were most in need of women workers. Women living in the Hutt Valley signed up for work and women came to the Hutt Valley from other areas to work in essential industries.

Women! over 17 years of age. For a healthy, vital war job, join the Women's Land Service. [1942-1943]. — **Women! over 17 years of age. For a healthy, vital war job, join the Women’s Land Service, 1942.**
Ref: Eph-C-WOMEN-1942-01. Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, NZ. /records/230818

“Dig for Victory” Campaign. Cultivating cabbages, over the stopbank near Centre Hutt. Instructors: A.J. Tilbury and F. Bertelsen. Hutt City Libraries collection

**Papers Past** **http://Hutt News 15 July 1942**

Women’s organisations such as the Townswomen’s Guilds worked together with the Women’s War Service Auxiliary. Street days and picnics were held in Lower Hutt by the guilds supporting the war effort.

**Papers Past http://Evening post 27 February 1941**

Newspapers such as the Hutt News were full of advertisements for women wanted for essential war work. Hutt Valley had many factories and industries needing women workers.

**Women ‘manpowered’ during WW2 working at Griffins Foods Ltd factory, Lower Hutt, packing water crackers. Photograph taken in the early 1940s by C P S Boyer.**

Boyer, Charles Percy Samuel, 1902-1973. Griffin’s Biscuit Factory staff. Douglas, Colleen Gail Mary fl 1995 :Photographs of Griffin’s Biscuit Factory staff. Ref: PAColl-4943-1. Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, NZ. /records/23088025

In Hutt Valley the Dominion Physical Laboratory in Gracefield was one place where women worked in the ‘war effort’.

Anthea Abercrombie working in the Dominion Physical Laboratory in Gracefield, Lower Hutt, Wellington — **Anthea Abercrombie working in the war effort, using a machine for measuring screw gauges, in the Dominion Physical Laboratory in Gracefield, Lower Hutt, 1943.**
Pascoe, John Dobree, 1908-1972 :Photographic albums, prints and negatives. Ref: 1/4-000431-F. Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, NZ. /records/23153728

Dominion Physical Laboratory staff in Gracefield, Lower Hutt, waiting for Eleanor Roosevelt's arrival — **Dominion Physical Laboratory staff in Gracefield, Lower Hutt, waiting for Eleanor Roosevelt’s arrival in 1943. Many of the staff are women working for the war effort in WW2.**
Pascoe, John Dobree, 1908-1972 :Photographic albums, prints and negatives. Ref: 1/4-000533-F. Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, NZ. /records/22528463

In some cases whole businesses became essential war work places , such as Petone Steam Laundry in 1942.

**Hutt News advertisement, 17 March 1943**

Another industry where many women worked was the Ford Factory in Lower Hutt. Women were ‘manpowered’ to munitions making. There was a shortage of accommodation and local residents were asked to provide accommodation for women and girls from outside the area. See also Hutt Heritage Blog post ‘First Lady visits Ford’ https://heritage.huttcitylibraries.co.nz/2019/05/16/the-first-lady-visits-ford/

Accommodation for women war workers in essential industries was difficult to find, particularly in heavily industrialised Hutt Valley. This was the impetus to build accommodation and the first hostel for war workers was built in 1943 in Hawkins Street, Woburn, Lower Hutt. It accommodated 360 girls. (Men were housed in Defence Workers’ Camps).

Lady Newall, the Governor General’s wife, opened the Hostel in 1943.

Two members of the Women's Army Auxiliary Corps in their flat, Hutt Valley — **“Two ‘WAACS’ who handle dangerous explosives. Here is their room in a block of State Flats.**
**Two members of the Women’s Army Auxiliary Corps (WAACS) in their flat, Hutt Valley, March 1944.**
Pascoe, John Dobree, 1908-1972 :Photographic albums, prints and negatives. Ref: 1/4-000966-F. Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand. /records/23230547

Women's War Service Auxiliary on parade, Wellington — Women’s War Service Auxiliary on parade, Wellington. Pascoe, John Dobree, 1908-1972 :Photographic albums, prints and negatives. Ref: 1/4-000499-F. Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand. /records/23052334

After the war the National Service Department became the National Employment Service. In March 1946 there were still 264 women accommodated at the Woburn Hostel. The YWCA continued running the hostel until its’ closure.