WOMEN WORKERS.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 878, 26 July 1910, Page 3

WOMEN WORKERS.

THE 'NEW IDEAL. Tho Queen publishes as a leader a very interesting' criticism of tho new ideal woman' worker as her work was outlined by tho Women's Congress held at Shepherd's Bush .last month. The days when women had to fight for their right'to enter professional life are past and now women are showing to what uso their highest knowledge is to bo put.

Women now understand the importanee'of homo science and as a proof tho Queen mentidns that "tho newly-insti-tuted course at King's College includes, in addition to chemistry,- biology, and physiology, hygiene, sanitation, economies, the management of business affairs and practical experimental work in the kitchen laboratory. These courses have been followed with an eagerness which augurs well for tho happiness of many a future home. . As Mrs. St. Loe Strachey asked at the congress last week, lias applied chemistry no lessons to teach in the kitchens of Great Britain? Have wo nothing to learn of tho nourishment of the human body from chemistry and bacteriology? And cannot ethics and psychology guide us hi the training of the young? Undoubtedly the existence, of a university standard in home science will create the demand for a high standard.

Another proof of the broadening of tho new spirit in which tho twentiethcentury- advanced woman regards intellectual life and scientific attainment is the number and class of subjects sbe studies, and, wo believe, adonis. Thus agriculture, and horticulture, architecture and landscape gardening, attending to tho siek and wounded in win time, or laundry'work and poultry farming, and many another useful and practical subject are taken up by her in a truly scientific spirit.- There is no such thing as "dirt" in chemistry, and nothing is too humble to be investigated—and improved—by science; and that intellectual women should condescend to "things of low degree" is proof not of the smallncss, but of the largeness of their mind. In recognising the importance of what some may term the small things of life the new educated woman therefore proves tho "soundness of her education, the wholcsomeness of her aim, and the truly scientific character of her mind and her attainments. ,

. In a somewhat similar ,way the now ideal woman worker interests herself in every aspect and phase of municipal and local government work, whether as administrator or officer, and again her advent m this class of work is good for all concerned. The fact that on boards of guardians alone there are 1165 women members tells .of much clever but disinterested work, while as executive officers of public bodies we now have women inspectors'of infants, children, midwivos, workhouses, and factories. There lias been, scarcely one recent Act of Parliament dealing ivifcli the daily Mo of the people which has not afforded ~ scope for educated women,, either as administrators or officials, to aid in carrying it out. In fact, there aro very many functions in local government that women can not only perform as well as male officers, but a great deal bettci. A'o public- hodv dealing with women and children should bo without women members, and no body of officials having to deal witli. children and women and their homes should bo composed entirely, of mou. Trained, efficient, expert women should be and will bo in future among every class of inspectors or officials under every Government or public body having 'for its object the education or health, the physical, mental, and spiritual welfare of the people. That tliero will bo no lack of suitable, women to fill all such posts no one need doubt who has observed the ever-growing tendency of educated women to qualify themselves for any, post or position which, by law they.are permitted to occupy.'

Now, as the winter approaches, is tho time to care for your children's skins. Lakshiiii and Lakshnii Cream are as good for the little ones as they are good for their mothers. If you want your small girls to have good completions later, care for them now. Theso preparations never fail, and are absolutely wholesome. Each, 3s. Gd., all chemistsor 3s. 9d. post free from tho John Straneo Winter Co., Wellington.—Advt.