WAGES FOR WIVES.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1257, 12 October 1911, Page 4

WAGES FOR WIVES.

<, A VOICE EKOM THE BACKBLOCKS. A correspondent, signing herself ''Ono Who Wants Wages," writes as follows:— "There seems to be a controversy ou 'wives' wages' going on in tho Homo papers. 1 should like to give my version on 'Should Wives Keceivo Wages?' I say yes, most emphatically. # 1 am ono with three children and :ui eight-roomed house to look after, cooking to do, and also milk-buckets to wash (5) twice a day. I also go in the garden to weed, and, when we have had three days' dry weather, I have to oarrv all my water from a creek about two chains away from tho house. There is the mending and washing and ironing all to be done by myself. What sensible man would say I ought not to get wages? Of course, most women know (hey cuu order elothes according to their position in life- But there is a lot of pleasure in ordering good quality clothes when you get grumbled at for days, and receive black looks! Every woman should receive 10s. a week ior work such as I have to do. Work would be a pleasure, knowing you could get some little things you liked with your own money. Some men don't care for going out much. Well, their wives havo to sutler accordingly, especially in the country, where driving is tho only means of getting a bit of pleasure. I only see our township once in three months, and I have bo much work to do that I haven't, timo to visit neighbours. It is enough to mako women wish they hadn't married, especially when they have earned money when single. I really think there ought to be a law compelling husbands to give their wives 10s. for every £3 a week they earn. Life on a dairy farm is all work— work, with very little pleasure."