HELP IN THE HOME

Evening Post, Volume CXX, Issue 9, 10 July 1935, Page 10

HELP IN THE HOME

(To the Editor.) ( Sir,—l should like to answer a letter which appeared in Saturday's "Evening Post" signed "Father of a Family." He says girls cannot be found who will take up housework uniess they are really up against it, and then they have no desire to work for the money which is paid to them. He appears to know little of the subject, I will give him a few facts why girls cannot be found for housework. My daughter,-aged 21, who is very well domesticated, having had four years of housekeeping at:home (as I myself am at business all day) thought she would like to get out with someone else, so she took a position which was advertised in' the paper.. She began at 8 a.m. every day: in the week. There was a man, his wife,' and four children to do for, so it will be easily understood what work there was to be done in- that house. She was kept slogging (not working) day in and day out until 8 p.m., and sometimes 9 o'clock at night. Her first duty was to dress the children in the morning and her last at night was to bath them all and put them back to bed. She had to do washing,' scrubbing, and everything except cooking, and all for the handsome wage of 10s a week, and out of that it cost her the best part of 3s for car fares, having to go two sections each day to her work. She worked until the Christmas and had to do all the spring cleaning (beating heavy mats, which is a man's work), and then they were so good as to tell her she could have Christmas Day off, but that she must work the following Sunday to make it up. The next job she got was almost as bad.. Then she took a place in a kitchen of a city tearooms and that was far worse. She began at 10 in the morning and worked until 11 at night receiving the large sum of 15s a week when she was lucky. It is to be hoped that all "Father's" family are girls and that in due course they will get their share of this wonderful and well-paid job, housework.—l am,, etc., MOTHER OF ONE OF THE GIRLS. (To the Editor.) Sir,—Without wishing to unduly prolong'the correspondence I would like to reply to the letter in last night's "Evening Post" by "Ex-Butler Houseman." I will admit that some people expect to obtain efficient help for poor Wages, but you will find such peopW in all walks of life; they deservJ neither sympathy nor help. I an. speaking for the people who are willing to give a fair wage—not less than 20s per week—and provide far better board and lodging than can be found in the average boarding-house.

My own experience and the experience of many others in similar circumstances is that it is practically impossible to obtain girls of the right type even under the conditions I mention. Housework in a good home with plenty of food and comfortable conditions does not appeal to them. They prefer to remain poor and free to roam about at will.

Your correspondent assumes that the routine of housework is unknown to- me. Possibly he assumes that I go about on a tour of inspection with a cigar and an air of autocratic authority. If he came up to our home at about seven in the morning he

wo ( uld find me cleaning out the fire- ] places before I start my day's work in town. Housework has no secrets from me or terrors, but it is like all work— it is just what you make it. This is a job for the welfare workers in conjunction with the Department of Labour, and I maintain that while the present shortage of domestic help exists, no respectable and healthy girl should go short of food, shelter, and good wages.—l am, etc., FATHER OF A FAMILY. July 9.