FUTUER HOUSEWIVES

Evening Post, Volume CIX, Issue 110, 12 May 1930, Page 8

FUTUER HOUSEWIVES

WOMEN'S OCCUPATIONS

(To 4he Editor.) Sir, —If a debate was being held as to whether women were justified in competing with men in the clerical labour market I should support your correspondent "Alpha" and reply in the negative. The problem was dealt with at some length in an Auckland paper a short time ago, and the Editor's article thereon is well worth quoting and reflecting upon. He says in such article and rightly inquires: "Where are our future housewives coming from? Most girls nowadays on leaving school to enter upon some avocation doubtless hope some day to have a home of their own with, o£ course, the usual appendage—a husband—but How many are preparing themselves to manage a home? Mighty few apparently. The modern flapper is like a butterfly; she lives but for the day, and thinks little of the morrow. The modern girl is content to hammer a adorn the back of a counter, or become a unit in a factory for a few years-to earn wages enough to 'cut a dash' amongst her friends and attract the attention of eligible, members of the opposite sex until she can ensnare 'the man of her choice' into proposing marriage and offering to set up a home. But how does Miss 1930 hope to qualify in . domestic science when she leayes her workaday job to take up the more serious business of life as a wife, and possibly as a mother? This reflection is prompted by the fact that at out technical colleges the night classes for commercial subjects are overcrowded by girls, and the cities _ have numerous business colleges all thriving to teach girls to equip themselevs for offices and shops, while there is hardly a technical college in the country that can attract any young women to their/domestic science and kitcheneraft classes in sufficient numbers to'justify their being car-/ ried on. This is indeed a sorry but stubborn fact, that the girlhood of New Zealand are apparently neglecting their opportunities of learning to make and manage a home. At the Auckland Technical College, for instance, there are admirably appointed model kitchens, under a most capable instructor, yet not sufficient students enrol to warrant the governors continuing cookery classes at night." Yet kitcheneraft is. one of the most essential branches of efficient housewifery, and the hours of attendance are such as should suit the convenience of most girls, even1 though they are engaged in business during the day, while the fees are most moderate. Possibly the mere mentioning of this may . induce some young girls, who have more concern for their future happiness than for the transitory pleasure of the present, to inquire about these cookery classes before they are removed from the prospectus of our Technical Colleges for want of support." " I do not know whether cookery classes exist in Wellington or not, but if so I expect they will be a failure*, like Auckland, for want of support.—l. am, etc., ■ . OCCOLD. 11th May. (To the Editor.) Sir, —I would like to answer your correspondent in Friday's "Post" on "Women's Occupations." The writer seems to have a very false idea of what she chooses to term drudgery. I have done all kinds of domestic work in this country,- but have never been made to feel a drudge and have always been treated with kindness and consideration. All honour, I say, to the women who ''carried on" during the war, but our men were not all in offices. Many women in the higher walks of life as well as the humble in the Old Country tucked up their sleeves and tackled • the drudgery. Were they not serving also?' ■. v

Many avoid housework because they would never be capable enough to do it. The truly domesticated woman is a clever one, and I think if there were only more of them, there would not be so many dicorces. Many a man who has to wait while his wife learns (that labour of love) finds it pretty expensive. It is great perhaps "to know one's onions,"' but more useful to be able to cook them.

There is no need for lack of pride in any work, and I have yet to find the man who looks down on any girl who is earning a honest living; rather will he say with me, hats off to the true woman who knows her right sphere and is not ashamed to be found in it.—l am, etc.,. ' SMILIN' THRU.