PRIZES FOR HAPPY HOMES.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1246, 30 September 1911, Page 11

PRIZES FOR HAPPY HOMES.

Hie North British Academy of Aria, which has its homo in Newcastle-on-Tyne, is not afraid of big frords,.and frankly avows its intentions for the betterment oi humanity (says the 'Manchester Guardian"}'. Xn pursuance of tiiesa intentions it should improvo the homo l»o of tho working classes, and as an inducement it is offering two prizes of .£lO each annually. Tho ono is for; wives and the other for daughters of widowers, and tho awards will be made for 'tho home, regard being had to ways and means, character, number of children, their ages, and other considerations influencing and attaching to tho making of a ha.ppy home." Tho competitions arc to bo limited at present to Newcastle, Gateshead, and Tyneside generally, 'but it is hoped later to increase the number of awards and to enlarge tho area to the whole of the United Kingdom." If the gchemo is a sucoess in ono place there is no reason why it should'not bo so in another, and, after all, it is only an extension, of tho kind of tliinpr tbat is already dono sectionolly in giving prizes for whitlow-boxes or for babies. But are we to hail it <is the social inspiration of our time and predict a great wave of amelioration as its consequences P Even its promotors wtmld hardly claim so much. PerJuaps acquiescence in an experiment is as far as many of ns are prepared to go. The retting of fashions in the virtues by tho offor of money prizes is not easily associated with high ideals, but perhaps it is worth trying Friendly competition may be a great instrument of reform, nnd to compete for a prize in happy homes can hardly bo degrading if- it bo honourable to win one at croquet or golf.