DOMESTIC ORGANISATION

Evening Star, Issue 20010, 30 October 1928, Page 2

DOMESTIC ORGANISATION

ELIMINATING MODULE The problem of reducing drudgery in the home is to be the subject of scientific inquiry in Great Britain. The National Institute ’ of Industrial Psychology, which has already dealt with many problems arising put of the complex industrial conditions of to-day, is to make a thorough investigation of domestic management. The institute hopes after its investigations to show how homes can be made brighter and happier, and how tho workers in the home can be spared much of the drudgery that is their lot to-day. Every typo of homo will bo studied from the tiny cottage to the mansion. The inquiry will begin in London and its suburbs, and will then spread to the provinces. First of all houseplanning will bo considered. Will the institute take tho advice which the Hon. Lady Denman gave in her presidential address to the association of teachers and domestic science recently, one wonders? Lady Donman suggested that all architects should take a turn in domestic economy. She would make them entirely responsible for running their college, situated not iu a pleasant country district, but in London or a smoky Midland town. Further, but way of refreshing their knowledge, she would make each architect responsible for one of tho houses ho has built.

■ then, she declared, dados, dusty corners, and a multitude of household inconveniences, from which women suffered would disappear. When the architects have been taught their business, and have learned to plan the “ ideal house,” the decorations, furniture, and equipment will be studied by the institute’s committee. Away with velvet hangings and with furniture carved and distorted to harbour dust. Then will come the important business of deciding bow much housework is necessary and how much can bo avoided. Facilities for cooking will bo specially considered, and the uses of labour-saving equipment as elevated, automatically-controlled gas or electric ranges to obviate stooping and backache would be pointed out. Appliances to lesson toil in washing up, preparing food, sweeping and polishing and the like would bo made known. Housewives will be shown the best methods of arranging the kitchen and larder. The object of the inquiry will be to avoid muddle, to eliminate haphazard methods and wasteful appliances, and to bring ordered efficiency into the home at a minimum cost.

And when the institute has completed its labours and iss- 1 its advice, the greatest problem of all remains; bow is the British housewife to bo induced to adopt the recommendations ?