Letter from Alexander McDowell to E. A. Aston, 17 March 1916 Letters 1916-1923 Alexander McDowell

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Letter from Alexander McDowell (d. 1918), Ministry of Munitions, to E. A. Aston, inspector for the Local Government Board (LGB), Dublin, in reply to Aston's letter on 11 March 1916. McDowell states he is not aware of any distress in the Belfast area regarding female workers from the local linen industry. McDowell also states that only one Belfast firm employs women on munitions work and believes the company's recruitment process to be fair and equal.Alexander McDowell, Esq., was the joint director of Ireland for the Ministry of Munitions.

 National Archives of Ireland NAI, CSORP/1916/7443/10 https://letters1916.ie/item/511 English Alexander McDowell 1916-03-17 Ministry of Munitions, Coates Buildings, Castle Street, Belfast, Ireland E. A. Aston Local Government Board, Dublin, Ireland Male Industry and Public Administration Industry and Public Administration Country and City Life

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 Telephone:Belfast No. 578. Telegrams:'Munarea, Belfast.'MINISTRY OF MUNITIONS All Communications to be addressed to The Secretary, and quote referenceA D Coates Buildings Castle Street Belfast 17 thMarch 1916. E.A. Aston Esq. Local Govt Board Inspector. Dublin. Dear Sir Captain Kelly has sent me your letter of the 11th and has asked me to reply to it. I, personally, was not aware that there was any distress here such as one would gather from your letter had been represented: but I thought it best to speak to the President of the Flax Spinners' Association as well as the Chairman of the Power Loom Weavers' Association. These two Associations represent practically the great bulk of our textile manufacturers, and they both tell me that while there may be some indiviual cases of hardship — as in a large community it is impossible at all times to avoid — they are not aware of any general state of hardship such as is suggested. There is only one firm here, so far, employing women on munition work. The firm chose the women on their merits from a long list of applicants and the question of birth or position had I believe nothing to do with the selection. Several at least of those selected had been taking lessons elsewhere on how to use the machinery. I fear the account which has been given you is an exaggerated one. I have not seen any advertisement for women for munitions in this part of the country, and I have not heard of anyone who has seen such an advertisement. Yours truly Alex McDowell Ministry of Munitions, Coates Buildings, Castle Street, Belfast, Ireland Letter from Alexander McDowell to E. A. Aston, 17 March 1916 Local Government Board, Dublin, Ireland Letter from Sir Henry A Robinson to Robert Chalmers, 29 May 1916Letter from a Local Government Board Inspector to Captain Kelly, 11 March 1916Letter from R. C. Kelly to E. A. Aston, 14 March 1916Letter from Alexander McDowell to E. A. Aston, 17 March 1916Letter from a Local Government Board inspector to C. J. Hanrette, 11 March 1916Letter from C. J. Hanrette to E. A. Aston, 14 March 1916Letter from the Local Government Board (LGB) to Cecil Pim, 11 March 1916Letter from Cecil Pim to E. A. Aston, 15 March 1916Letter from Sir Henry A Robinson to Thomas Nally, 6 April 1916Letter from Alexander Richard Barlas to the Longford Urban District Council, 28 July 1916Letter from J.E. Devlin to the Under Secretary of Ireland, 23 June 1916Letter from the Alexander Richard Barlas to Sir Matthew Nathan, 15 February 1916Letter from A R Barlas to Sir Matthew Nathan, 1 March 1916Letter from J E Devlin to the Local Authority Longford, 30 November 1915Letter from L.S. Smith to the Executive Sanitary Officer, 3 March 1916Letter from A R Barlas to Sir Matthew Nathan, 28 February 1916 Alexander McDowell Letter from Sir Matthew Nathan to Alexander McDowell, 3 November 1915Letter from Alexander McDowell to E. A. Aston, 17 March 1916Letter from the War Employments Inspector to Alexander McDowell, 22 March 1916Letter from Alexander McDowell to Edward Carson, 20 July 1916Letter from Alexander McDowell to Edward Carson, 5 October 1916