THE EMANCIPATED MOTHER

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 228, 21 June 1921, Page 6

THE EMANCIPATED MOTHER

THOSE DISHES, THOSE MEALS, THOSE BEDS I AIMS OF THE W.N.R. MOTHERS’ HELP DIVISION Married life should be more than unceasing Washing of plates, minding of 'babies, washing of clothes that always seem to need more washing, cooking of meals that seem interminable. At least, that is the view-point that was put before a Dominion reporter last evening when he interviewed Mrs. Coleridge, president of the Mothers’ Help Division of the Women's National Reserve, on the subject of the division, which has grown, within two years, to a strong organisation. Mrs. Coleridge and her associates in the division think that Mr. Married Man and’ Mrs. Married Woman should have some little time for outings and entertainment; and Mrs. Coleridge lays particular emphasis in explaining the objects of the division, and appealing for public help, on the needs of Mrs. Married Woman.

Briefly, the working of the league is as follows Eire capable young women are employed at a good salary to assist in homes, working an eight-hour day, and usually travelling from home to home. The division charges a fee for the girl’s services, by the half-day, this fee going towards the paying of the helpers’ salaries. Houses of all descriptions are visited —-wherever there are mothers —and the helper minds the babies, washes the dishes (that begin to lose their formidableness under the deft handling of the worker), and generally cleans the place. "And the result is,” eaid Mrs. Coleridge. "that the mother of a family is able to go out in the afternoon, if she wishes; to enjoy a trip to tho beaches on a week dav, to eat food that she has not cooked herself: to realise that there is some freedom in married life!" Is the help restricted to poor families? innocently asked the reporter. Mrs. Coleridge was amused. "Certainly not!” she said. "The girls go to some bouses that in normal times, where domestic help obtainable, would have a cook, a parlourmaid, and a nurse. They go to houses the owners of which own motor-cars— although, of course, there are motor-enrs in families where servants could not bo afforded. There is no doubt that the service has tended to raise, the dignity of domestic helpers. The hours for the worker are good, and give her, too, time in which to hnd relaxation. The girls work from 8.30 a.m. to noon, and from 2 to 0. tho long lunch-recess being much appreciated. And you can imagine how valuable the services are in houses where there are several young children; where the mother is ill, or where the work absolutely roquires an assistant.” Mrs. Coleridge made special reference to the attributes of the "team” at present working. "The girls are superior, she said, "and have been carefully selected So far, thev have given every satisfaction, and each day we receive letters of appreciation. We have never received a complaint from anyone, so it is evident that' the division has brightened many homes, the outlook in which would have been drab otherwise.” , . Do the operations of the division extend to bachelors’ apartments? asked th Mrs. eP Coleridge smiled. "To mothers only,” she answered. "Wo hope that bachelors, when they see the good work the division is doing, will realise their dutv and get married.” The girls have many laughable experiences in the course of their duties, ns is shown in the reports that they make each fortnight. On one occasion one ot lh» “team” was making tea, the kettle having been filled with water. presumably bv little Johnnie, aged eight Queer snwlls began to emerge from the kettle, and the helper found Hint one of the list'd didi-cloths had been placed in ' On another occasion it was found that the tablecloth did duty a-s a sheet, nnd the dmhro were dried with facofc.web The home was better after tho helper’s arrival than before! The fees in the eases of poor people, are on a WX. Mrs. Coleridge said Hint the helpers hnd in one or two cam, been imposed on. bv persons ringin'! 1 np and living fictitious addresses and urgent calls for h'lil. nutting the girl- to a lot of trouble? ~ "We hope the public will sunnort 11. she said, "for we are certainly out to help them.”