A COMMUNISTIC KITCHEN. Mr. McLean Proposes Reform.

Free Lance, Volume VI, Issue 282, 25 November 1905, Page 6

A COMMUNISTIC KITCHEN. Mr. McLean Proposes Reform.

THERE is a germ of a new order of things in. a suggestion thrown, out by Mr. William McLean at one of his meetings. Mr McLean thought it would be feasible for thirty or forty workingmen's families to live together, have a common kitchen, and save expense in food and fuel. Yes, it sounds all right to the person who isn't going to be a member of a mess, and it is an idea that pans out with excellent results m barracks and places for men only • • • You take thirty working men's families. Some families number two, others ten. Some of the ladies have relatives who are Js.P., oc Ministers of the Crown, or E-oad Board officials. Other ladies' ancestors drove carts. Would they commune ? Would ladies be detailed from day to day to do the cooking, or would the whole of the families pay a staff of cooks? Would any member of the commune be entitled to lift any provisions he or she desired, whenever he or she felt hungry, or would each have to wait until the mess-bell rang. * * * Would the wharf labourer, who arrived home at 2 30 in the morning, be allowed to draw his rations there and then, or would he have to wait until the kitchen was m full swing for breakfast? Suppose a kiddy wanted a piece of "breadanjam I" Who would be the controlling influence? The mother of the kiddy, or the mess steward, or the head cook, or who? If one family ate three times the quantity of food the other family ate, would that family have to pay moi*e per week? » • • Who would do the washing-up, and do you think thirty ladies would ever quarrel about it ? Also, do you imagine the lady who wanted pickled pork would be content with corned beef? If half of the commune were out of work, and hadn't got any money, would the other half of the commune cheerfully share the tucker and pay the workless half's whack ? Who would "boss" the show, and who be the presiding genius over a mixed

children's table of from thirty to one hundred children ? * * • Would a lady member of the commune be entitled to steal out in the night to the kitchen, which might be half-a-sfcreet away, to> warm. a "bottle" for the baby, or would it be considered a breach of principle to go to the common biscuit tin to assuage the hunger of Tommy wh') was howling at No. 12? Do. you think that there are thirty women in Wellington who could cook round the same fire and live in happiness? If a common kitchen, why not a common laundry, a. common dotrmitory for the children, a store on th-*» premises, a communistic policeman to set that no one away with the stores. In face, why not communistic bliss at one stroke ? • • » All the same, it is a tip-top idea if the ladies will agree that it is a good idea, if the workers all get home at one time, if everyone agrees that the menu shall be the same for all, if everyone pays his "whack" to the common fundj and if several other things. The mere fact that the communistic kitchen has no more hopes of realisation than Mr. Palmer's municipal laundry doesn'' count. Before Mr. McLean does anything further in the matter, u«j should really ask the ladies about it.