SUBURBAN "BLUES"

Opotiki News, Volume II, Issue 210, 21 July 1939, Page 2

SUBURBAN "BLUES"

PROBLEM IN BRITAIN . “GET TOGETHER” PLAN Social workers all over Britain want-, to chive away ‘‘Suburbia’s Blues,” or what psychologists call “suburban, neprosis.” Schemes are under consideration for the establishment in a number of large provincial cities of centres where families can meet. Their aim will be to break down barriers of reserve and provide opportunities for suburbanites, to “get together.” Psychologists have come to the conclusion that there is sueli a thing as suburban neurosis—the “blues” which attack the otherwise happy young, housewife tied to her home all day. Their remedy is ‘"‘Alcet nfore people in new surroundings.”

'J’lie model for the scheme is the Pioneer Health Centre at Beckham, a remarkable building of concrete and glass fully equipped as a club for 20C0 families. They pay Is a week to swim,dance. read. do “gym” or avail themselves of the centre’s numerous other facilities. Alrther takes the children in theafternoon and father joins them when lie comes home from' work. Alother can leave baby in the nursery while she swims or slims in the “gym.” The centre is the only one of its kind, in Europe, and provincial cities, .may soon have similar facilities. 'I he.se suburban blues. a centre official told me. can lie- very demoralising. “if a young couple have children and no domestic help itmeans that the housewife is tied a l,r day and can rarely go out with her husband,” she explained. Hut Beckham’s centre exists not only for dealing with “Buburbia’s. If lues.” It has a far greater scope There are grandmother and grandfather members too. Clergymen are joining in the scliemeTiie Key. J. T. Hodgson-, minister ot the Trinity Alethodist church, Wood Green, is the latest to light- what liecalls “suburban sadness.” He has started a movement in liisparish by which lonely people are invited to; tea on Sunday. They attended the evening service, which is? followed by a social hour.