DOMESTIC HELP

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 264, 29 March 1911, Page 2

DOMESTIC HELP

REPORT AND RESOLUTIONS. At the W.C.T.U. on Monday afternoon Mrs. Cole gave an interesting and instructive address on ''Domestic Science," and the following resolutions were passed: "That this convention expresses its entire sympathy with the efforts being made to provide scientific and practical instruction in domestic economy, and views with much pleasure the foundation of a chair for Home Economies at the Otago University." "That the women of the W.C.T.U. in convention assembled most heartily endorse the proposals of the Christchurch branch for the more thorough training in.domestic economy of all the girls in the Dominion." Following is the report of the subcommittee on the Domestic Help Difficulty: Your committee agreed that, among other causes which produce the present unsatisfactory conditions, are the following: (1) Inefficiency on the part of a large proportion of'those engaged in domestic service; (2) excessively long hours of employment, insufficient time for relaxation, lack of proper accommodation for sleeping. Your committee recommends, as a remedy, that the status of the domestic servant should be raised by providing means for proper training and equipment. This would secure to them the advantage of being able to insist on reasonable conditions from employers, and would secure to employers reliable and efficient service. With the view to providing training for all girls attending the primary schools, that the Government be asked to make domestic economy compulsory for girls in Standards V. and VI., and for girls in lower standards whose age is 12% in the preceding January. That a practice house be provided at every domestic science centre to be used for the purpose of training girls in general housework, and where lunch may be provided at a small charge for children attending the school. That domestic instruction be made a compulsory subject for all girls holding junior free places at technical and high schools, and that it should be a pass subject for junior and senior civil service and matriculation examinations. The committee is of opinion that the time now allowed for domestic trainin" in connection with the primarv schools', viz., 40 hours per year, is not enough, and recommends that it be increased to 2% hours per week. That in connection with each technical high school a training hostel be established where students may board, and where all pupils taking the domestic science course may receive instruction and practice in cookcry, laundry work, and care of a house. That the; .Government, be asked to make attendance at continuation day classes in domestic science compulsory, and to enact that employers release girls for four hours weekly to enable them to attend such classes until they are 17 That a creche be attached to every training hostel, in order to teach students the care of infants. The creche would also be a great boon to many mothers. Your committeo finds that Aew Zealand is lagging behind other countries in this matter, Switzerland being perhaps the most advanced. In the rural districts of that country girls must attend a domestic economy school one whole day in the week, from' October until May, for a period of two rears iwery district has its special household school, and attendance is compulsory up to the age of fifteen, and on leavin* the elementary school every pupil must proceed to a secondary institution. In Germany, Britain and America also a very decided step forward has been taken in this matter. The committee recommends that other centres throughout the Dominion be asked to assist°in pressing the subject on the attention ot the Government.