The Scheme of Things By M.H.C.

Evening Post, Volume CXXIII, Issue CXXIII, 10 April 1937, Page 19

The Scheme of Things By M.H.C.

i. :■ An interesting and highly-educated English woman traveller, who has paid .more than one visit to New Zealand ■'finds herself filled partly with amazement, and partly with pity for New fZealand women —more especially- for ithe young mothers of then'ation. She I sees that, while ■ civilisation. has • adjvanced, the standard of living has Imiproved to a high;: degree of move■'mei.it, amusement, change, and specialisation in foods and necessities for '.the'little ■ ones which were not known earlier in the old colonial days, and at ■the.'same time there has been a great •*alling-off in the possibilities of assistance for mothers. The choice is before /'them to drop out of touch with the jworld around them for a time, to- be "back numbers" because they do their --duty and stay,at home while the child-' •ren arelyoung—for.no one with any ' sense can advocate taking the little ones about'the .world of noise; rapid: movement, and unhealthy excitement; ■yet the conditions • are- such that few indeed- can -obtain -any reasonable assistance in their homes nowadays. Most "helps", are both untrained and highly expensive. The hours during which: they can be expected to work 'are.limited, and they have a standard 'of life placed 'before them-which they will havej.to/drop^completely Jif they should become married women and willing to" undertake. the duties of mothers as well as those of wives. The: only people, so far as the observer. could note; whose hours of work are absolutely/ unlimited are. the mothers of the nation^'''They , are.- always on duty ,firom- early;".morning 'till late- at night, 'and;,-often. during the night when illness "is about, with no prospect of relief during the day, unless some kind neighbour comes to the rescue...

Now this -is the result of an unprejudiced onlooker- at. the domestic arrangements which ...have -come about and have become intensified lately. She asked: "How can people here expect young married people with means to come here'from overseas when they know that they will, not be able to get ■ domestic help, and how.; can young women who .have 'come .from comfort-, a^le Homes'm the., Old Country'be .expected to be happy and contented when they are simply domestic drudges,,with not only children to bear and~rear;'but "have all.-:the other work., of the, households ipiled1 oh their unhappy shoulders l.weH?3;S'Apparently;i .New;' Zealand women are used to these . conditions, arid .therefore do ijot, combine together strongly Jtb'get item, altered. 'But, .per- . sbnallyi'l could not recommend any young married people I know to come out here, -for they would-have but_a small .chance of comfort or happiness."" The high, cost of'living, ;: the ■difflculty .of/ getting, good-fruit ; and vegetables for the young, ori^s, andthe ■ small, prospects.- for; them- later, as shown by the:.fact "that the-outstand-ingly, clever ones : leave the country .and-'do, hot .return,-;.all;.; appeared 'to show.the Englishwoman.that thVmar- , 'ried women, and mothers of this .country'receive anything but "a square ' Seal"--" as: :thirigs 'are arranged by j the men of ithe-.Ddminion.'. Jv;-h' > )-:i. ..:. i

Many points', of vse-vv,- nave' been ■advanced > about • the . low . birth-rate ,in the Dominion and the selfishness1 of ■the ■young .'people in not having larger families, but this onlooker, who some- ; times" sees a good deal, more clearly than those immediately concerned, has ■made some statements that are hard to combat. : The large majority of young people adore, their children, and want j the' very best for. them.' They want good food, good' clothing, good education, and reasonable chances in; life as soon as they ', are ready, to. be launched. At the same time, mothers are only human. They absolutely need a modicum bf rest, amusement, and

opportunity to,be free 'of "little com--pariy", for awhile to refresh themselves with adult conversation—and yet, ' as things are, it is impossible for the poor or middle-class. mothers to 'get home assistance. A' great deal 'has been written about:motor-cars,'but, after alii these are more often than riot a good means for taking \the .family'out for change "of "scene...,and air, and the mothers are able to get a little recreaj tion on one of the beaches' or'in the

country, picnicking-for the day, and seeing somethingr' besides the ■ backyard or'the 'other of the street It .means'.that "father"-spends the day with them, and. gets a' little time with the children,.and,shares a bit in their upbringing. 'k '; ~'■".:, '.'■■-..-.*. ■■.. :- ' :

'.A'Vfrite'r in\a l ;Sout;hern.;paper says: "I wish-that it were made-legally compulsory for every,mother, to desert her household for at .least.,one fortnight s. year"—but. that' 'yyks.."^ occur" when the..children : were v \bld;.' enough, to' be left to their own" devices, as" she could not suggest that the little families should.,be left alone without tending or supervision. Where is such to come from nowadays?: Thewriter was concerned with ;those'■worh'en • who, when the families ■ are old '•: enough to ■ look, after themselves a good: deal, would be all the batter.for: a little ,less. "mothering." , Yet' they..go: on ■ w.earirig" themselves out,: having a complex'of "three good meals-a day,", to be 'prepared with mxiety, and-overrfatigue, ■ \yith house- ;

work that could be shared or left, undone without any' great harm, and who, with .worn bodies and nerves, are far less. pleasant, people than they ought to be if they took, life more easily and sensibly. These things, are.as true,as the fact that in the infantile days, the mothers are overworked, and, it may be that .they, establish the complex which overshadows both their own lives and those of their families later oh—and who can blame them?! .They see the immediate necessities in the early'days of the families, and they, grow into theL .drudge ;;habit —a most harmful, one, -and. a- great : mistake. Therefore, those who come-from lands where domestic help is possible, either white or. coloured,, look-at the conditions of motherhood in this favoured

land* witlv a great/deal "of sorrow! and pity, and',wonder, how it has all come about iri the'country' where the women flfst ; had-fce vote. It seems to outside women^.that the.mothers;in New Zealand should' be ■ ther first to 'be considered:by;' any- '-'that 'they should be helped to preserve their o\vn health; 'that food, ''nourishment, and clothing .should be " obtainable, at ( "all times; that. reasonably r priced and. efficient domestic-.help, should ,be available fo'rV-them;. that/ ; they, should have definite.rest arid, holidays, and'that' the ■much-talked-of extra leisure 'should' be 'available : for the mothers as. well'as tor all the ■; members .of her . family. 'This 'is the view of -.people who look at this land.from outside, and . while just passing through.. They-admire; its natural beauties; they* think \yell: of its climate and natural productions—but live': h'ere^—no; '; "Domestically ; things are; in, a,'great mess for the women," said the visitor. "What.are. you going to .do about it?" It.is a case,.at present,1 of "Echo answers ..'What'?" ■'~.. ~ ■.-.• ,