HOUSEHOLDERS’ EXPENSES

Press, Volume XCIII, Issue 27989, 8 June 1956, Page 13

HOUSEHOLDERS’ EXPENSES

COMMENT BY MRS M. E. FUREY

“With every attack Dame Hilda Ross makes on the working housewife, one realises how utterly ignorant she is 01 the struggle the average housewife nas to make ends meet, week by week,’’ said Mrs M. E. Furey, president of the Canterbury Housewives’ Union, in a statement to “The Press’’ yesterday. She did not advocate time payment, said Mrs Furey, but she knew enough to realise that it was the only way m which, at times, housewives could procure necessaries in the home. Dame Hilda Ross had spoken of refrigerators and washing machines as luxuries. At present, they were necessaries. A washing machine should be in every home where there were children.

“The farmer these days buys a tractor—usually on time payment—because he knows it is a good investment and saves him hours of labour. It is one of his tools of trade and makes for efficiency.’’ Mrs Furey said. “Unfortunately washing machines are so highly-priced that only the comfort-ably-off can afford to pay cash. Th* 5

average housewife saves the deposit, procures the machine and, what is most important, has the use of it while completing payment.

“With the 40-hour week and. at times, long holiday periods, refrigerators are a ‘must’ in every home. Meat can be purchased much more cheaply in quantity from the meat works than by . bringing in small lots every day. Other foods can be preserved and kept safe from contamination; hence the refrigerator should not be in the luxury class. “If Dame Hilda Ross is really concerned with the welfare of children especially—as she assures us she is—she could help the mothers by urging the Government to increase the child allowance.’’ Mrs Furey said. “Unfortunately, it is the mothers with growing children who are forced to work. Secondary education is an expensive business these days. School uniforms sports equipment, and books run into pounds, which, because of the high cost of living, it is impossible to save to meet these extra calls on the budge* “Why does Dame Hilda Ross think it is good for working-class youngsters to start married life with a. minimum of equipment and a minimum wage?’’ said Mrs Furey “I don’t think she can prove it makes for marital happiness. Half of the marriages of today ‘split on the rock of finance.’ Unfortunately Dame Hilda Ross’s Government has proved itself utterly indifferent to the needs of the masses, as its legislation shows. “As Minister of Social Welfare, Dame Hilda Ross, if she attacks the working housewife, should offer remedies for the state of affairs she deplores.’’ said Mrs Furey. “Her recent utterances convince me that her Ministerial title is a misnomer.’’