The Dominion. WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 28, 1935. HOME SCIENCE AND DOMESTIC SERVICE

Dominion, Volume 28, Issue 284, 28 August 1935, Page 8

The Dominion. WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 28, 1935. HOME SCIENCE AND DOMESTIC SERVICE

In a letter to the Wellington Technical College Boaid of asking for an outline of the board s proposals for the training of gir s and women when the new home science wing of he college is com pleted, the Women’s Social Progress League stated that its object was “the raising of the economic and social status of those engag domestic work ” The board, of course, as the director pointed out at its meeting on Monday night, is not concerned with the domestic service problem as a problem" Its aim rather is to provide of training in home science which will enable future wives and to manage their homes with efficiency and economy. Incidenta Ij, ffirls who may enter domestic service after a sound course of tra, ” in .S ffi home science should be all the better,, from their own and their employers’ point of view, for their experience. As, however, the Women’s Social Progress League had raised the question of the economic and social status of domestic service .> . e director included in his statement some observations on tha point which are worthy of attention. It is true, as he says, that the old almost feudal, character of domestic service has gone. The problem is to find a better system to replace it. Mr. Ridhng declares that the employer must recognise that “the indifferent service given under the old system is uneconomic, and should be prepared to pay for assistants who can readily assist and who, if necessary, can take oyer complete control of the household.” Several factors operated m t discrediting of the old system. Long hours, infrequent holidays, the “menial” status of employees, and low wages. To go into service came to be considered somewhat of a social stigma. In an attempt. to solve the difficulty of obtaining suitable domestic assistants, people took to calling them “ladyhelps,” paid slightly better wages, and gave more attention to claims for days off. But the problem has remaine a problem, and will probably continue as one until the whole system has been given a new orientation. . , ~ . There is no reason why domestic service,, like any other kind of service dignified by a more imposing description, should not ta. made both attractive and remunerative. And, while we ar f about it, we might try the psychological experiment of a change of descnptio for “domestic servant.” It may seem a trifle, but trifles are important, especially if they can assist in the- divorcement of domestic work from traditions. According to Mr. Ridhng, a fair arrangement of the hours of work and a fair remuneration are fundamental factors in any successful scheme. There are other considerations, which, psychologically speaking, are as important. There are, for example, the relationships between mistress and assistant, and the character of the domestic environment into which the girl is introduced. Mr. Ridling says that certification of those who have carried out a specific course can be undertaken by the college for the satisfaction of prospective employers, and the extension of the work of the college s vocational officer would enable students so trained to be placed in P This undoubtedly would give a definite status to domestic careers, but if under such a new order girls would be expected to measure up to certain standards, there would have to be also corresponding adj’ustments on the employers’ side. It is impossible to imagine a perfect menage, but there are many ways m which present methods in household management could be improved, and the machinery o domestic life oiled for smoother running. People must be trained to command as well as to servL There can be nothing so irritating to a competent mistress as an incompetent assistant and the converse is j'ust as true.