FOR WOMEN STATE HOME AIDS

Auckland Star, Volume LXXVI, Issue 29, 10 December 1945, Page 7

FOR WOMEN STATE HOME AIDS

THEIR FIRST DAY

COMMENCEMENT TO-MORROW

The first scheme in the world, the Government's new liome aid service, which will supply help in the homes for those who are inurgent need of assistance, will begin to-morrow.

The girls, whose average age is 24, have chosen the work as a reliet from some of their wartime employment. ; About 50 per cent of them have "previously been engaged in domestic work.

The indications are, said the Manpower Officer this, morning, that" when an accommodation unit is available there will be more applicants. The present applicants are all girls who will live in thenown homes. Many women have had a community life in war plants and other activities, and it is expected that they will find it preferable to go out and do housework and come back to the company of thenfellow workers rather than be isolated in another woman's home. The applicants accepted are of a good type. Two are trained dieticians and at least two others have had some nursing training. One, who has had maternity training, is a married woman who finds the' conditions of .the scheme with its shorter hours suitable as an occupation. . , . It is pointed out that no girl is expected to perform eight hours of heavy cleaning, and after a morning's work of this type she must be given light duties in the afternoon. _ , Several trainees, girls of IS, have already enrolled and girls of this section will be trained when a hostel is available. It is encouraging to note, said the Manpower Officer, that those who have asked for the domestic ait's are all urgent cases and no one has requested relief unless there has been a very good reason. Requests have come from the aged, and cases of invalidity and maternity. The maternity cases are being given • priority at the present time. They arc cases where it is not only necessary, but urgent to have help in the daytime, and where the father or other relation is able to mind the young children at night. ■ The scheme, it is pointed out, is in its infancy. Both employer and employee have to be tested and as the service extends more arrangements will be made. Meanwhile the department is satisfied with the successful beginning or the new service.