HOUSEWIVES PRAISED

Press, Volume C, Issue 29509, 10 May 1961, Page 17

HOUSEWIVES PRAISED

Dav’s Work And Party (HZ Press Association)

DUNEDIN. May 9. A tribute to the young housewives of New Zealand was paid by the GovernorGeneral (Lord Cobham) when he opened Studholme Hall, the new University of Otago and School of Home Science residential hall, today. “I don’t believe that young married women anywhere in the world do a better job of making good homes for their husbands and families,” said the Governor-General. They had won his sincere admiration for the way in which they did a full day’s work, then turned up to a party in the evening looking fresh and charming. Lord Cobham said it was difficult to apply the words "home science” to any early memories of his own home. Hagley. Anything less scientifically designed it was hard to imagine. “New Efficiency” But the day of the big country house was past swept away by the social revolution that followed in the wake of the two world wars. An odd, less stable and infinitely more egalitarian age had dawned, in which a new efficiency was needed to cope with the whole realm of housekeeping, catering and what was known as "making both ends meet.” Some, but not aIL of the weariness of domestic chores had been eliminated by modern machines. The refrigerator. the washing machine and other “aids” had all played their part. But they had to be used with intelligence and carefully maintained “Today domestic science was a real science, both in private and commercial life. For young people to learn this early was extremely important, Lord Cobham said.