 At the women and girls of our country, be given training so that they may do their share in the war and the urgency. How this training is given, and who does it, is of great interest to us all. To some of us, the National Youth Administration stands out as the agency which is doing the best job along these lines at present. Therefore, I congratulate Mr. Aubrey Williams on having inaugurated this training, and I congratulate the young people at having this administration with which to work. Of course this year, the National Youth Administration has done much to broaden opportunity for American youth. Today, it is broadening opportunities for service in the training of thousands of young women who are world leaders. Some of this training has been in fields traditionally occupied by women. Thousands of young women are gaining experience in power sewing to meet demand occasioned by the war. Others are being trained in character work, in photography, and in poster work. During the training period, they also do productive work for the armed services for the Red Cross, and for selective service goals. In many cases, they have released men for active duty in the armed forces. During every war, women have comforted the sick and ministers from suffering. The demand for trained nurses is so great today that assistance is badly needed to relieve them from routine duties in hospital work. The NYA is preparing thousands of young women of Hospital Aids to take their faces as assistance to our technically trained hospital staff. These young women are taking over such tasks as bed-making, feeding and care patients, sterilization of instruments, and assistance in laboratory and x-ray work. The value of NYA Hospital Aids was demonstrated beyond any doubt after the Pearl Harbor attack, when every hospital on Wahuaila requested their services. Reports from Honolulu authorities are that the manner in which they conducted themselves is a credit to our women. In large-scale food preparation will also be of value in emergency situations. Men have always worked in the shops to supply man's needs in peacetime and war. But today, as increasing numbers of men are called to military service, young women must be ready to step into their places without loss of time. Months ago, the National Youth Administration anticipating that need began to prepare young women for jobs in war industries. Skilled workmen with long years of experience supervised the work and training of girls in NYA shops. The entire emphasis of the NYA training program is on practical work experience using modern production methods under the direction of men to know through farm and farm industries. Employers in the war production industries are now making use of young women in handling small machine tools such as small lanes, drill presses and grinders. Young women have done especially well in those jobs requiring precision and a high degree of manual expert. Negro girls play an important part in the NYA training program and have made outstanding records in their shop work. Hundreds of girls are gaining experience in training and sheet metal work. Such training is essential for many jobs in aircraft and other war industries. In shops such as this, young women learn production methods through actual work. They have an opportunity to acquire skill in such jobs as cutting, bending, drilling, soldering. Young women are being trained by the NYA in the field of communications. Hundreds are gaining experience through practical work and the repair and construction of radio receivers and transmitters and other communications equipment. A great deal of work has been done for the Army and Navy as well as for other war agencies. Other young women are gaining experience as operators of radio equipment and are ready to take places of responsibility in the maintenance of essential communications, particularly during emergency periods. Some NYA girls are repairing Army telephones and other communications equipment. These young women are employed by the National Youth Administration in New Haven, Connecticut, doing welding and sheet metal work in the construction of a fixed bucket, a piece of emergency apparatus from local fire departments. This is an excellent example of the combination of useful production under industrial methods and the training of youth for war production, which characterizes all NYA work. In a period when every machine must count, the NYA's making its equipment serves two purposes, the training of young people for war industries and the production of goods, which also serves the nation's needs. In this instance, as in many others, youth are gaining valuable training and the community is better prepared for emergency. The passing of skills from father to son is well known in our American culture, but here is a case where brother shows sister how it is done. Tutored in the production of NYA machine shops, are many orders for small nuisance pods, boats and spoons for the armed forces. Thus, NYA youth are already playing their part in war production by being trained for jobs in war industries. Infection is a job for women's fingers. Carefulness checking at this stage is essential for the new functioning of the completed mechanism. Employers find young women especially capable in this type of work. These parts, shaped in work from rough materials, are now ready for use. NYA youth trained in productive work are at the nation's best.