Social Service and War
One of the most valuable resources of a democracy in time of war is the great army of voluntary social workers which has been built up and trained in the years of peace. The 19th Annual Report of the National Council of Social Service, published this week, gives an account of the pre-' parations that have been made for adapting the social services to the needs of a war situation ; one of the most useful has been the establishment of a standing conference to plan co-operation with the Government and co-ordinate local efforts " so that the voluntary movement should play an effective part in national defence." The social changes that would be produced by war today are such that its contribution can be invaluable ; particularly, for instance, in aiding with evacuation schemes, in assisting large sections of the population which will have been uprooted from their usual environment, in supervising the employment of juvenile and female labour in munitions factories. The Citizens Advice Bureaux which the council proposes to establish will give the citizen the help of skilled social workers in solving the new and unexpected problems that will certainly arise. The National Council is to be con- gratulated on its foresight ; it is only regrettable that its energies may have to be diverted from the magnificent work that is performed in time of peace.
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