H "3



Women War Workers

Perhaps she scarcely knows her own value
when she gives her much-tried mistress ' notice '
for the last time, packs her boxes, and departs
to the training school, where she is to learn
the mysteries of her new craft, in search of
employment. In some cases, indeed, employ-
ment does not result, for she is by no means
always considered a suitable applicant for the
position of bus-conductor. Up to the end of
1916 the London General Omnibus Company
alone had received many thousand applications
for situations, while, of course, far fewer posts
have been available.
But if she has the good fortune to possess the
qualifications necessary to satisfy the directors
she is sent to a doctor, by whom she is required
to submit to a somewhat severe medical exam-
ination. The best of health is necessary to
pass this test, for life on the bus, so beneficial
to those sufficiently strong to stand the con-
tinual strain and unrest, is equally harmful
to others not so robust.
The applicant should be twenty-one years
or over and under thirty-five years of age.
She should be at least five feet in height.
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" Fares y Please ! "

Defective eyesight must at once be remedied
by glasses.
When she has passed the medical examina-
tion the applicant's next step is to go to Scot-
land Yard and obtain for herself a licence.
This costs her 5s. Before she receives it she
must be ready and able to give all particulars
of herself to the police. She must produce
references from her former situations, and
strict inquiries will be made about her char-
acter. Any charge officially recorded against
her name will be practically fatal to her
chances of success.
