HOME SERVICE ASSOCIATION

Press, Volume LXXI, Issue 21449, 15 April 1935, Page 3

HOME SERVICE ASSOCIATION

ANNUAL REPORT

The annual report of the Christchurch Home Service Association rends as follows. - —

The Heme Service Association has now completed its sixth year. In many ways members have reason to be well satisfied with the work done and the aims achieved, and are happy to be able to record in this report a considerable improvement in the economic conditions affecting women and girls. In 1933 the number of positions filled was 900, in 1934 it was 1010, and during this year the number has been 1130, showing an increase of 230 positions filled in the two years. The average number of vacancies filled a month has been 94. and it is interesting to note that August, 1934, was the busiest month of the year, there being 110 engagements made during that month. Over one-third of these positions have been in the country.

It is often thought that the Home Service caters principally for girls, but actually there are almost as many posts found for the gentlewoman in reduced circumstances, for the capable lady-housekeeper, and the experienced nurse 7 companion. The finding of the trustworthy temporary housekeeper is the association's special forte. Since the establishment of the association in 1929 there have been farreaching changes in the conditions governing domestic work and there yet remain many difficult problems to be solved. For several years the committee's chief anxiety was the finding of congenial employment for large numbers of unemployed women and girls, but to-day the situation has been reversed, and now the secretary has difficulty in finding a supply of really efficient workers to satisfy the demands of the employers. More than ever to-day the association has realised the great importance of ability and efficiency in its workers, and it realises that it has a great task before it in cultivating a sounder knowledge of all branches of housecraft. In accomplishing this task the association will be indirectly raising the status of the house-worker, and encouraging young girls to become efficient in housecraft, and to look upon the domestic occupation as a profession. Regarding wages paid to domestic workers, there is no doubt that at the present time better wages are being offered than during the years 1933-34, but there is still a great tendency among some employers to give what is totally inadequate to the needs of the girl or woman —this is true both of town and country. If the efficiency of domestic workers is to be improved, the employers must be ready to realise that reasonable wages are essential, and if they do not give an adequate wage then they can never expect to find many young women of the better type entering the domestic profession and giving really satisfactory and efficient service. Country Scheme One of the secretary's greatest difficulties has been persuading workers to accept positions in the country. The longer working day in the country partlv explains their unwillingness, and "the dread of loneliness and the lack of interests and recreation also have their part. To obviate these objections to some degree, the secretary, alter sending a worker to the country, communicates with the secietary of the Women's Institute, or the j Mothers' Union, or the Women's Division of the Farmers' Union in that pariicular district to which the git I 01 womnn hci? been so that she m<iy be introduced to the social life of that district. This scheme has proved well worth while, and many workers have spoken gratefully of the help it has been. This is part of the association's philanthropic work, and so also is the Girls' Club.

Helping Hand Department There is also the Helping Hand and Sales Department. Through this department. the association has been able to help a great number of older women and girls who are otherwise unable to earn, most of them being delicate or in very poor circumstances, yet able to do knitting or plain sewing. During the year 1934-3.0. more tnan £ 100 had been paid out to these workers, Not only is this of material benefit to them, but the mere fact that they are given something to take home to do cheers arid heartens them. In September, through the generosity

of Mr W. F. McArthur. who lent the association a shop in Cashel street, members were able to extend the work of the Helping Hand Committee by selling a quantity of work done by these women. Material was purchased with the help of donations from the Mayor's fund and the Minister for Internal Affairs (Sir Alexander Young). This material was made up into useful garments and eventually a great many of these garments were given away to necessitous families.

Affiliations The association is now affiliated with the National Council of Women and the central executive of the Women's Division of the Farmers' Union. Members regret the loss from the committee of Mrs C. J. Treleaven and Mrs C. Niven-Forest, who in the past have given much valuable assistance in the Helping Hand Department during the winter. Girls' Club The annual report of the Girls' Club states that the club still maintains its usefulness and enthusiasm, and has grown considerably during the last year. Lonely girls and country girls, coming into the town for the first time, find companionship and interest and look forward to a happy evening at, the club. It has happened more than once that an employer has come with her maid to introduce her to the club, and several mistresses have shown great interest in the activities and appreciated the benefit to the girl. The club meets regularly once a week in St. Luke's schoolroom, where it has the use of two rooms and a kitchen. It has al; j a gas stove and an excellent supply of cooking utensils. The girls arc fortunate in having cookery lessons and demonstrations twice a month. St. John Ambulance lectures are given once a month, and lessons are given on dress-making, knitting, and fancy-work. The girls have also had travel-talks, talks about great women, and readings, and thoroughly enjoy the physical drill and community singing. They have had practical instruction in the laying of tables and in sandwich making. In April every year the club holds its birthday party, when the girls invite their parents and friends and have an evening social. In November they hold a "break-up" party, when they stock a few stalls with sweets, cakes, fancy-work, etc., of their own making, and hold a small sale for their own funds. Last November there was an excellent display of fancy-work. Prizes were awarded for cookery, St. John Ambulance work, fancy-work, and knitting. The thanks of the club are due to the St. John Ambulance lecturers for their interest and help, to the cookery teachers from the Normal Training School, to Miss Carrig for her careful lessons in dressmaking, and the vicar and vestry of St. Luke's for allowing the use of the rooms. NEW BRIGHTON FREE KINDERGARTEN DANCE The "Back to Childhood" dance, which the combined committee of the New Brighton Free Kindergarten Association has been preparing for very thoroughly, will be held this evening in the Oasis. I j