MAKING OF HOMES.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIV, Issue 288, 2 November 1934, Page 14

MAKING OF HOMES.

AD Dll ESS TO LEAGUE OP' MOTHERS.

“Home-making” was the subject chosen for an address by Miss V. Macmillan B.Sc., in an address to the monthly meeting of the Palmerston North branch of the League of .Mother's, held in the Empire Hall yesterday afternoon. Mrs G. G. Hancox presided over a good attendance, and extended a welcome to friends and members.

Organised women as home-makers could eliminate the social misfits which came from badly organised or unhappy homes, said Miss Macmillan. Since women in New Zealand bought approximately 83 per cent, of the goods sold, they could be responsible for their quality and class. The children, or the New Zealanders of tomorrowj owed their whole future to the training received in their homes, and through home-making women should be able to derive their personal happiness. Women had a big responsibility as home-makers, and being entrusted with the charge of producing satisfactions to those in the home. _ Miss Macmillan outlined the essentials of a home-maker. She must be a good financier, and understand the question of food and dietetics .added the speaker, who said she felt that in New Zealand women had developed the fancy side of cooking, rather than the plain and wholesome side. An understanding of clothes, including choice of materials and garments dress-making, and laundering, was also required, while it was necessary that women should acquire a taste for arranging rooms, making a choice of furniture, and interior decoration, since this was the setting of the atmosphere that was to be created. Having these practical characteristics, with a knowledge of nursing also, the woman as home-maker must be an idealist or dreamer, since it was she who set the ideals and standards of the home. Then to carry out her ideas and plans, the home-maker must he an organiser. Assuming that this programme had been carried out, Miss Macmillan said the home-maker should still be bright and intelligent, with a live interest in affairs outside the home. She could then be an understanding sympathiser to her children, who could go to her for advice on which they could rely. In this direction she must be a psychologist, remembering that children required individual treatment. The home-maker was both a student of life and a teacher, with a character and individuality of her own. Finally Miss Macmillan urged that home-making bo regarded as a profession. There was a tendency to look down on domestic service, she said, but a sensible attitude should be cultivated. Instances of how other countries were leading the way were related by Miss Macmillan. Marriage should not be looked upon as an alternative for the girl who was not clever enough to enter into a profession or business, and the co-operation of the .experienced and successful home-makers was needed in training the girls and the home-mak-ing beginners. It could be seen that home-making was no light task, but a. question that involved much, and it should be regarded seriously. The most important people in the country were the home-makers, and on them rested the future of New Zealand. ‘■'The thing that goes the furthest towards making life worth while —it costs the least and does the most —is just a pleasant smile,” was the happy thought for the month supplied, by Mrs J. Barsanti. Invitations were read from All Saints’ branch of the Mothers’ Union, Y.W.C.A. and W.C.T.U. to various functions. Pleasurable items were vocal solos by Miss Gladys Cameron, and violin solos by Miss Joyce Findlay, Mrs B. F. Barlow officiating as accompanist. Mrs O. M. Christiansen proposed a vote of thanks to the speaker, and Mrs Greig to the entertainers and hostesses, both being w-armly carried. Afternoon tea was served by the hostesses, Mesdames M. E. Kobersteni, L. Duffin, A. J. Graham, B. Yardley, J. Varcoe, R. Brace, J. Toogood, H. Griggs, F. Whittaker, 11. E. Small and Middlemiss.