DOMESTIC “HELP”

Waikato Times, Volume 128, Issue 21370, 14 March 1941, Page 3

DOMESTIC “HELP”

, A MODERN PROBLEM j COUNCIL OF WOMEN’S VIEWS HAMILTON BRANCH REPORT The following report was submitted by the Hamilton branch of the National Council of Women at its last meeting on the problem of domestic help, a subject studied by the branch during the year:— Hamilton branch of the National Council of Women of New Zealand feels that it would be futile to consider the subject as dealing simply with the supply or shortage of “domestic servants.” We incline to the belief that the domestic servant of the past is gone, never to return; and that while the treatment meted out to her by some mistresses may have had its effect in making this work unpopular, the fundamental causes for the disappearance of the house servant (particularly the general servant) are education, and the voluntary changes in social life. Specialisation of the machine, the demand for a fuller social life, and for more freedom in and out of working hours, have all played their part in the disappearance of that wonderful household helper of 50 years ago. We have taken the term domestic help to include any help, human, mental, material, which the homemaker requires in order that the home she manages may be a socially useful unit as perfect as possible in terms of human life. Need for Leisure Like every other worker the homemaicer must have knowledge of her job, and leisure. Her life must be of value. Directly (a) she must be a good wife. She requires to that end.— 1. Leisure to devote to her husband as comrade and helpmeet, and therefore she must not be overburdened with housewifely and motherly toil.

2. Books, music, hobbies, friendships, social intercourse, etc. These are necessary in order that she may keep her mind, appearance, and social habits up to date, and may be alive and interesting enough to inspire her husband and her family. (b) She must be a good housewife. To this end schools must and do provide some instruction in the rudiments of housewifery. 3. Classes, day and evening, should be (in some places are), available to women for instruction in the various branches of housewifery including dietetics. A woman desiring to learn will do so better and more quickly than a school chiid. Special facilities should be available at these classes for women to specialise in various branches of housework with a view to qualifying to visit homes by the hour, or the day, to do some particular part of the work of the home (cf. U.S.A. visiting cook, laundress, evening nursemaid)

4. This kind of service might be organised in towns, and hostels set up for the women. It might be run with organising assistance by the helpers, as the W.D.F.U. housekeeper scheme is, by the housewives in cooperation with the workers, as a social service as Plunket is run, or as a profit-making organisation bringing housewife and worker together. If women believe in such a scheme as of value in the community and not merely as a means of shifting unpleasant tasks to inferior shoulders, they must visualise their own daughters working under it. There is much insincere talk about raising the status of home helpers by those who think their own daughters above the possible status. 5. In some towns young women of leisure staff hospitals and other creches, take children off the hands of mothers for an hour or so, free housewives by reading to invalids, sew for families and so on. All this is very fine and could be organised into something very efficient. It ought to be taken in hand. If a committee of women in, say, Wellington would unify this work under one name and one* head and call upon other cities and towns to establish branches, something big might eventuate.

6. Modern machinery for housework, e.g., electric cleaner, washer, etc., should be standard equipment in all houses, just as are light fittings, tubs, copper, hot water service, etc., now. In connection with flats, and among small houses, a communal arrangement of use and ownership of some equipment might be possible. Prices would come down. 7. More general adoption of habits of communal cooking and eating (as foreshadowed by the Under-secretary for Food in England) may become popular. While this should be economical and have certain social advantages, it seems to us that it might tend to a serious dimunition of home life. We feel that already the home plays a shorter and shorter, and less and less important part in the life of the child, and we incline to regret this. We are of opinion that the home ought to be the centre of the child’s life during his first seven years and that only in a good home atmosphere can he have that sense of security which he requires in order that he may develop harmoniously. She Must Be a Good Mother (c) She must be a good mother. To this end: 1. Plunket Society enables her to prepare and care for her child’s body wisely and easily, and also trains and provides baby nurses. 2. Similar provision with respect to the child’s mental and emotional development is badly needed. Classes taken by trained psychologists for instruction of women are a real need. If scientific knowledge is necessary in connection with the body whose actions and reactions we can to some extent see, how necessary must it also be in connection with the mind and emotions. 3. Creches should be established j and properly staffed in cities, so that 1 little children may be cared for ; while mothers attend to shopping, j hospital visiting and other duties, : this for the sake of the child as much as for the mother. Staffing, etc., should be under the supervision of the Education Department or Plunket Society or both. Finance might be the concern of gcv -rnment. city, business people, and private giving. 4. Nursery schools and kindergar-

tens should be part of State education system (a) for instruction of mothers and potential mothers, for demonstration and for educational experiment; (b) for the benefit of the children. 5. There ought to be more and closer co-operation between parent and teacher. 6. More and more leisure is coming to all, therefore home life and home relationships should demonstrate to children the happy use of leisure. Help of all the above kinds is needed and is to be had. If we women make our case, get busy ourselves, and show the way to progress, we shall receive all the help we ask for. The quality of the life of an individual matters to society. As her life, work and leisure develops powers and capacities, the homemaker will develop generally in taste, manners, intellect and ideals, and so she will influence for happiness and satisfaction, her home, her friends and the community.