SCIENCE IN THE HOME.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 14 August 1928, Page 4

SCIENCE IN THE HOME.

An investigation inlto problems connected with domestic work Was been undertaken in Britain (by the National Institute of Industrial Psychology. Psychologists often soar above the heads of those whom they set out to help, but in this instance it appears that the reformers are starting from an eminently sane land practicable basis. This proposal is bbsed on two cogent consideration's; that housework employs a larger group of Workers than any other occupation or industry; ! and, that industrial workers ’ lives are influenced by conditions in their homes as well as by conditions in their workplaces. 'The investigation will begin with a study of the best layout and arrangement of a house, the form of utensils used, and the ancthods of working, all considered from the point of view of the prevention of fatigue. “'Our idea, at the start at any rate, is to restrict the investigation to ■working-class home's -and to mid-dle-cla.s's houses with only one servant, ’ ’ s'aid Miss Winifred .Spielman, the expect in charge of the investigation. “In the structure and planning of kitchens we hope to have the .co-opera-tion of architects, and we propose to get in touch with the manufacturers of the kitchen apparatus .and utensils I ’to 'see if these can be improved. There jure good and bad Ways of scrubbing a floor, polishing .boots, laying and clearing a. table, and washing 1171, and we will try to discover how these monotonous jobs can- be done most quickly and with the smallest, amount of fatigue. We are embarking on this investigation not as interfering efficiency experts, blit ns people who genuinely believe that useful results can be obtained which will help to reduce the fatigue and the monotony of domestic, work, and add t,o the hnyvpi-nes-s and content of home life.”