asked the Minister of Labour the number of women who have been prosecuted for refusing to carry out his orders and directions; how many have been imprisoned; how many women have appeared before tribunals as conscientious objectors; and how many of those have been sentenced to imprisonment?

Up to 30th April, 1942, 142 women were prosecuted, and of these 16 were sentenced to imprisonment for refusing to carry out the orders or directions of the Minister or a National Service officer. Up to the same date 16 women had appeared before tribunals as conscientious objectors; none of these had been prosecuted by my Department.