BACHELOR WOMEN'S HOMES.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1355, 5 February 1912, Page 9

BACHELOR WOMEN'S HOMES.

In most of the big capitals of the world the woman wage-earner who gains her living outsido of (he home has come to be an outstanding subject of interest. In great centres Mich as New York. London, and Berlin, (here are crowds for whom even (he tiniest homo is out of the question, and day by day we in Australia arc being brought nearer to the problem of housing (comments a writer in the "Argus"). In Germany there are in certain districts homes that have been built for what is described as the working class, although it is pretty obvious to-day (hat the man who earnis .CSOOO a year belongs (o (ho "working cla.ss" in the same way as he who is paid 30s. a week. However, in Germany women of culture have gone to reside in these homes localise of the increased cost of living in (lats or apartments. The ideal of the organisers of the. residence plan is that every woman who supports herself by her industry ought to have an opportunity of living in a comfortable and suitable dwelling. A large number of propertyowners in Berlin are interested in (he chsemc, and have put this interest into practical shape. Already blocks of (lats consisting of one or two 'rooms have been built for the accommodation of women who live on nulest incines. In most eases there is a common kitchen, wilh dozens of gas-stoves and gas-rings; a plentiful supply of hot water, and a general launThis idea is being worked out also in New York, Chicago, and other American industrial cities, whore wage-earning girls find it impossible to live in boardlnghouses on their weekly receipts. The great point advocated in favour of the residence plan is that it encourages a love tor home, and gives a girl a chance of getting air, light, and quiet, three essentials frequently found wanting in the cheaper class of boaj-dinghouse.