SCHEME APPROVED

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 61, Issue 282, 10 September 1941, Page 7

SCHEME APPROVED

TRAINING AT “STRATHEONA.”

TRAINEES FROM THE COUNTY. The “Stratheona” system of training for girls in housekeeping was approved at a mooting in Ashburton .yesterday afternoon, the first portion of which was reported in the “Guardian” yesterday. The offer of the Board of Governors of the hostel to take Ashburton County girls for training was accepted and Mesdemes D. Mcßae (president of the MidChnterbury Federation of Women’s Institutes) and W. J. Quantoclc (president of the Mid-Canterbury ’Women’s Division of the Farmers’ Union) were appointed to arrange, a further meeting to go into the question. The great cry to-day was for population, Mrs Evans (vice-president of the “Stratheona” Board of Governors) said, and no population could he kept up without strong, healthy children from the countryside. There were schools closed to-day because the population was not there, and that sort 1 of thing should he fought against. Every encouragement for the raising of families by the settlers should be given by training domestic assistants through hostels like “Stratheona.” By the end of the year of training, the girls left the hostel prepared to take an important place in the community. The girls had a wonderful opportunity through their association with Mrs McLeod, who in former years was a domestic science instructor and who gave devoted service, to the hostel. In the past year the hostel had been able to put help l into no fewer than 1023 country homes. ’ If the number of hostels could he raised, how much greater would be the degree of assistance that could he given-. • Mrs McLeod spoke of the work of the hostel from the training point of view, and said that Mr Burnett was a man of vision in having put the hostel system on a real foundation. A diploma was granted to the trainees after one year at the hostel and two years in service in South Canterbury. The two years asked for were part of tho training. Some girls wished to take the training for the first year and then go where they wished afterwards, hut this could not bo sanctioned. Mrs McLeod explained that the hostel supplied meals for children from a nearby school and also catered for weddings and social functions, all aimed at assisting tho training of the girls. It was expected that the girls should be paid at a higher rate of wages than untrained girls, and wages varied from 22s 6d to 35s a week. It was expected, also, that they should he taken into the family with whom they are placed, and made to feel that they were one with them and not there merely as a servant. The hostel had cost *£24o in the last year, and.the receipts amounted to £B9 more than that, -though account was. not taken of the £475 found by Mr Burnett. Among the receipts were donations £27, children’s lunches £l2B, and morning teas £22.

Mr S. P. Taylor (County Chairman) congratulated the speakers on the work they were doing and on the explanations thej' had given. Mrs Evans (vice-president of' the Board of Governors of “Stratheona”) said that women with small children were given preference in tho placing of trainees.

Mrs McLeod said there was a long waiting list. Airs W. J. Quantock (president of the Women’s Division : of the Farmers’ Union) thanked the visitors for plating the scheme so ably before the meeting. There was a great need in Mid-Canter-bury for a. training centre on the lines of “Stratheona.”

Airs D. Alcßae (president of the Federated Institutes) suggested that a further meeting be convened to go into the question. Airs A. N. Grigg thanked the visitors for their offer to take Ashburton girls into the South Canterbury liosfel.