HELP FOR MOTHERS

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 31, 31 October 1917, Page 6

HELP FOR MOTHERS

AN OPPORTUNITY FOE GIKLS. \ In regard to the problem which, if | an increased birth-rat; is desired, must . bo faced by those responsible lor tne ! destinies of this country, that of suppiy- ! in" domestic help for the already much ; harassed mothers of families who are | again about to be confined, various schemes have already been propounded. | One a variation of the scheme brought j forward by lady Stout some time ago. j is that girls who have left schoul and j who have nothing of particular urgency ! or interest to occupy their time, should be asked to give their services to 'the Plunket Society, who would arrange for their distribution to households where their assistance in looking after the children while the mother was laid up* and assisting; in the work, was urgently required. These cirls would probably receive a certain amount of instruction in rcard to their duties, would be under the control of the Plunket Society, and would receive payment weekly in return for their services. Such, roughly, is an outline of the scheme which the society is considering. Lady Stout's proposal was for voluntary girl helpfrs to look after the children of mothers who could get no help, for a certain number of hours each week. The appeal was made, and not a single offer was received. The society recognises, like Nurse Baker, that it is quite impossible for mothers to have large families when there is such a dearth of domestic help.