Proposed Certificate System For Domestics

Manawatu Times, Volume 63, Issue 81, 6 April 1938, Page 14

Proposed Certificate System For Domestics

The domestic service question is be-

coming more and more a live issue in

England. Recently a Domestic Service exhibition was held in London, and now the organisation of the Conservative party in the London area has worked out a comprehensive plan for household training that may receive official support.

The plan proposes that domestic science should be compulsory for girls in public examinations, and that every registered girls’ school should have a domestic science department. Girls would be able to qualify for three certificates. A “C” certificate would be given for the simplest courso —which would be compulsory for all — in- domestic housecraft, physical training and citizenship. These girls would be encouraged to go to work where the householders would be willing and qualified to train them further. The minimum wage for “C” class girls would be 10s a week, plus insurance. Time would be set aside for attending classes to train for a “B” certificate.

Two terms at a training hostel would equip a girl for the “B” certificate, the subjects being personal hygiene, physical training, cookery, housework, nurserywork, laundry, needlework, dietetics and catering. Holders would have a minimum living-in wage of 18s a week, plus insurance. Class “A” certificates would be awarded girls trained for tho higher branches of domestic science. Their salary minimum would be £2 a week, plus board and lodging; they would have two weeks ’ holiday on full £>ay, alternate .Sundays off, half-day a week off, one “.short” evening a week off and lwo hours daily.