HOUSEHOLD AID SERVICE

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 279, 22 August 1944, Page 3

HOUSEHOLD AID SERVICE

New Smith Family Activity

Ju a broadcast to Wellington women last evening, the mayoress, Mrs. Appleton, discussed the latest Smith Family activity which Ims for its object (he provision of temporary assistance in I lie homes of women who have broken down in health owing io overwork or war-strain. In the address reference was made to tile wonderful response by women when a cull was made to provide comforts for those serving overseas, and garments for refugees from the stricken countries of Europe. One effect of this wartime activity hud been to obscure the fact that there were many homes in Wellington i here some form of assistance was urgently needed. Kccently conferences had been held representing all womens orgHiiiza(ions, the National Service Department and the Smith Family, as a result of which the Smith Family had been requested to undertake the task, of organizing a voluntary “household aid service. Mrs. Appleton stressed the fact that if the population was to be built up, children were precious assets and all possib’.; help must be given to their mothers. Many of the homes in need of temporary assistance were well able and willing to .pay for help. They did not want charity and did not want something for nothing. Arrangements bad been made for an adequate wage to be paid to all those who volunteered to help. The call to service applied to women of all ages. Even pensioners could help, as they were permitted to.earn up to a certain amount without their pension being reduced. Women in the age group under 41 years who might be liable for manpower direction, but who for some reason could not undertake fulltime work in essential industry, should interview, their manpower officer who would send them to the Smith Family, where arrangements would be made for them to help for a few hours daily, or weekly, iu some home in urgent need of assistance. There was an urgent need for temporary help in the homes of many women about to enter a maternity hospital. Women with a leisure hour or two to spare each day could prove themselves Good Samaritans and good neighbours by offering to spare a few hours curing for a family, thus giving the mother time to do some shopping, visit the dentist or doctor, or rest for an hour or two with a friend. Girls and women unemployed on 'Saturday mornings or at nights could add to their incomes, and at the same time help to solve what was really a serious problem in the community by volunteering to help in some home in urgent need of assistance. All women who could possibly spare some time each week to help those in urgent need were asked by the mayoress to interview the secretary of tbe_ Smith Family, in the old fire brigade buildings, Lower Cuba Street, opposite the Town Hall, and obtain full details of the “good neighbour” service which, was now being inaugurated. Full details would be mailed to those who could not arrange for a personal interview.