War on Meddling Methods

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 487, 17 October 1928, Page 12

War on Meddling Methods

Scientific Inquiry In Britain

Investigating Domestic Organisation

THE problem of reducing drudgery in the home is to be the subject of scientific inquiry in Great Britain. The National Institute of Industrial Psychology, which has already dealt with many problems arising out of the complex industrial conditions of to-day, is to make a thorough investigation of domestic management. The institute hopes after its investigations to show Tiow homes can be made brighter and happier and how the workers in the home can be spared much of the drudgery that is their lot to-day.

Every type of home will be studied from the tiny cottage to the mansion. The inquiry will begin in London and its suburbs, and will then spread to the provinces. First of all house-planning will be considered. Will the institute take the advice which the Hon. Lady Denman gave in her presidential address to the association of teachers and domestic science recently, one wonders? Lady Denman suggested that all architects should take a turn in domestic economy. She would make them entirely responsible for running their college, situated not in a pleasant country district, but in London or a smoky Midland town Further, by way of refreshing thenknowledge, she would make each architect responsible for one of che houses he has built. Then, _ she declared, dados, dusty corners hnd a multitude of household inconveniences, from which women suffered would disappear. When the architects have been taught their business; and have learned to plan the “ideal house,” the decorations, furniture and equipment will be