MOTHERS AT WORK

New Zealand Listener, Volume 35, Issue 887, 3 August 1956, Page 5

MOTHERS AT WORK

Sir.-The panel discussing the controversial topic, "Why Do. Married Women Work?" (the question really is, "Why Do Mothers Work?") in the National Women’s Session today (July 18), greatly disappointed me with their attitude to the subject. During the -discussion it was even said by a woman member that "too much is expected of a mother nowadays." She ig expected to be mother, nurse, housekeeper, etc. Well! Has a mother's task ever been different? Quite wisely, the panel gave first of all what virtually everyone accepts as good and valid reasons for a mother working-e.g., deserted wife, young widow. with children to support, invalid husband, and the few others with which no’ one would quarrel. I felt they could have done better had they defined more rigidly, "economic reasons,"’ Granted, some families are of a size where a wife finds it extremely difficult to manage on an average wage. Nevertheless, I noticed that, as usual, no mention was made of the mother who chooses to work so that refrigerators, wall-to-wall carpets, cake

mixers, etc., may be purchased, not forgetting, of course, keeping up with the fashions for the next race meeting, to which she travels in a new car, nonchalantly smoking her cigarette, which "Heavens! I couldn't possibly give up." After the meeting, at which she took the wrong tips, as did probably Hubby, her many friends are invited to a party where liquor practically drips from the taps, and the guests as well as hostess cheerfully, or otherwise, lament the cash that. failed to bring the expected "divvies." I believe that many working mothers merely use their children as an excuse for seeking employment; that a true mother will make any sacrifice necessary for her children’s education. The latest fashions, cigarettes, etc., cheerfully go by the board so that Johnny and Mary can have every chance in life. One speaker mentioned during the discussion that he personally knew of the work the Police Clubs in London were doing. He said these clubs were run by the Police during the afternoons where children, whose mothers were employed outside their home, could stay during the after-school hours ti!l mother came home: such is the magnitude of the problem in Britain, In time, is it going to be so with New Zealand? It is the privilege, not the buren, of mothers the world over to give their children the constant attention and love which they need; to be at home when eager voices call out, "Mother, where are you?" to answer their endless questions; to solve their little problems; to nurse them through their childish ill-nesses-in othér words, just to be there, at home, when needed. _ Why do mothers work? Wistfully, the question lingers.

MAY

DANIEL

(Riverton).