DOMESTIC AID

Evening Post, Volume CXXVIII, Issue 11, 13 July 1939, Page 18

DOMESTIC AID

? BtrSkKEEPER&SHioSt

A DIFFICULT YEAR

Although'a great deal of the housekeeper, work is j now ..done by the provincials of the Women's . Division 'of [the Farmers' -Union, each working its !oWn scheme, headquarters, together with provincials, has faced during the pa|^^ear,the'greatest difficulty in obtaining suitable to send to the" relief brVparitry women. "Qnly those actually engaged, in the work i really know the. problems and appreciate the wo:r.ry of endeavouring to serve efficiently against what seems to be insuperable odds created by circumstances1 and general conditions over Which we- have little or no control," says ithe report of the Dominion secretary,' fllrsv A. B. SmithY "As far as headquarters is concerned, I have explored/ every avenue to" maintain a staff of capable women, but have had to do m'y^-best with a skeleton staff, satisfying .myself that it is better to decline applications and to retain only a few of the besfc women than to employ ..at high wages - women- who are not suited and, have not the personal qualifications necessary to make them good , division : housekeepers/ Mrs. i Smith! stated that there jvere 64 registered housekeepers, as against 70 in 1938, the difference being significant when the extension of work through prgvincials was considered, and no less than 1066 engagements had been filled. "Huge blocks of flats employing housekeepers and other help for daily service have caused a great.rush. of workers to the city," continued the,report, "and witHi-so.muc^; work at high rates:~pf:"p'ay,' it 4s"only"to be expected that th;e ftuinb6r.. likely' to consider w6rk~ in. .the;-.country, is .at;the minimum.". "Membership, of the division is -well maintained, 20,033 names being recorded on March 31. Twenty-two new senior branches and sixteen junior branches were-formed during the year.