DOMESTIC HELP

Press, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22182, 27 August 1937, Page 7

DOMESTIC HELP

TO THE EDITOB OF THE PRESS. Sir—What a bu-bear this supposed dearth of domestic help is. Women, seeminglv. cannot have babies unless they have help in the house and are practicallv waited on all the time. A lot of help the pioneer women of this Dominion had, other than any their menfolk could give in the home Where there is a plentiful supply pi monev for home expenditure, it would benefit the health in many cases if the daughters undertook the housework and so released help for those who 'reallv needed it. As for where there is little money coming into the home, I have in mind two fine little women in a country district who look after their five and six children respectively, do all their own housework and cooking (harvest time included), and most of the family sewing, and yet find time to take part in social activities. , . Better pav appears to be given to domestics at present, and that m conjunction with regulated hours of work should improve matters considerably, not forgetting that the title of Miss or Mrs as required should be theirs. Also, it is no more incumbent on women to have babies than it is on men to engineer depressions with their resultant unemployment, low birthrate, and often subsequent industrial strife and war. Before the war of 1914-18. there was a lot of talk about the low birth-rate in France, the epithet of decadent race being hurled at her. but nowadays you hear nothing about it, the matter having apparently righted itself. Further. I have a recollection of reading somewhere about the same tim° o f a religious institution in that country that received all unwanted baDies, whether of single or married parents imanv peasants at that period being very poor). The child could be left anv time in the day or night in a porch attached to the institution with written instructions as to name and religion, but all claim to it by parents was forfeited. Whether the affair was State-aided or otherwise I do nat remember, but I pass on the idea for what it is worth.—Yours, etc., M.S.

August 25, 1937. [Subject to the right of reply of "Great Grandmother." this correspondence is now closed.—Ed., "The Press."]

10 TBB IDITOI 0» TBB FBMI. Sir—Mav I reply to '•Great-Grand-mother" and "26752'5" letters, which appeared in your paper. I wish to thank "Great-Grandmother" for her kind letter, also for helping homeless women in the past. "26752" does net seem to believe that there are any homeless women in New Zealand. The women I spoke about were women under the age of 60, who are not strong enough to earn their own living. Some months ago an old lady in Auckland died and left £16,000, which was to be used in providing a home for poor women of 55 years and over. (This ladv's name was Mrs Emma Gillibrand.) Also, one lady in Dunedm. who is a member of the Women's Employment Committee, said that the Government should have a hostel for these women, where they could have every care, and have a chance to regain their health. One woman was found in a state of collapse in the street by one of the social workers. It was a cold night and the woman was living in a room with no fire, and. needless to say, she had bad health. As "26752" does not seem to believe what I say, 3 have left the name of the Dunedin lady at "The Press" Office, and he can also write to the Mayoress in Auckland, and she will give him full particulars of the home, which is to be solely for these unfortunate women. As regards domestic help. I can only advisa mothers to have their daughters taught a trade or a profession, as domestic work is the last work for jjirls to take up. No matter how well they do their work, they are thought nothing of. I am just wondering if "26752" spends his time peeping into the motor-cars parked outside the dance-halls, as he seems to know so much about these women who use lipstick and paint to such an extent, besides inrilging in too frequent nips! It seems a pity that women could not change their sex, then the men would realise the hell women have to go through at childbirth. Needless to say, the first baby would be the last, as the men would not have the courage to face the ordeal again. The average working man cannot afford to have a big family; that is, if he intends to give his children a fair start in life, which is his duty. Children do not ask to come into the world, so why should they be born into poverty: and why should the mothers spend their time rearing boys to be made fodder for war guns? If "26752'" would only spend bis time helping the

unemployed men to secure decent jobs, there would be in all probability an increase in the birth-rate- Yours, etc., FED UP. August 26, 1037.