HELP IN THE HOME

Evening Post, Volume CXXIII, Issue 85, 12 April 1937, Page 8

HELP IN THE HOME

In commenting upon the shortage of domestic help "The Post" has em,phasised that this is a national matter, not to be regarded solely from, the viewpoint of the opportunity it affords the worker for exacting the highest pay and easiest conditions possible. It directly affects the birth-rate of the Dominion since mothers cannot be expected to face the strain involved in rearing large families without domestic assistance. The McMillan Committee supports this view and places domestic hardship with economic hardship as one of the main causes of the resort to abortion. The committee recommends that a full investigation be made into tlie question of domestic service and, alternatively, that the Government should inaugurate and recruit a National Domestic Service Corps. The members of such a corps would have whatever training was considered necessary and their services would be available to all women with first consideration to expectant mothers, mothers convalescent after childbirth, and mothers with young families. The service would be either free or charged for according to the circumstances of each case. This proposal merits consideration. It is the mothers of young families who experience the greatest hardship from the lack of domestic help. A great deal has been said of the landlords who stipulate "no children" in letting 1 houses or apartments. There are helpers, as many young mothers know, who make a similar stipulation i before they will accept engagement. The organisation of such a corps, with the Government accepting responsibility for constant employment on certain minimum conditions and rates of pay, would possibly involve heavy expenditure. The corps would have to be a large one, for a few helpers could do no more than help the urgent cases. Then the question arises: How far is it reasonable that the State should go in thus subsidising labour for a special purpose? Also, before adopting such a plan, the Government should inquire most carefully into the present availability of labour. In January last a registry office proprietress expressed the opinion to a "Post" reporter that some girls did not want work and were content to take the three meals a day and the 14s a week for a few hours' work they could get from the Women's and Girls' Employment Bureau.. The bureau office, however, stated that this was far from being the position. Girls for domestic help were scarce and there was little demand for the middle-aged women who were on the books. This is a subject thai; should be definitely cleared up!. How many female workers arc receiving this sustenance and relief allowance, and on what conditions? Are they required; as men are, to accept any reasonable offer of employment, whether it may be at the occupation they choose or otherwise? Or how comes it that the anomaly persists of a demand for labour and payment from taxcontributed funds for tlie unemployed? When a scheme has been put forward which may involve heavy Government subsidies, inquiry should be made concerning expenditure of other State funds which may have a .bearing on the position.