HOME ECONOMICS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21580, 26 August 1933, Page 19

HOME ECONOMICS

MOVEMENT IN AUCKLAND HEALTH AND HAPPINESS The movement on.-foot to form a branch of the Home Economics Association in Auckland was assisted yesterday aiterii'oon by Professor Anne Strong Dean of the Faculty of Home Economics at Otngo University, who •'addressed a representative gathering of women on the subject in the Y.W.C A. Hall,» The Mayoress. Mrs. G. ,w. Hutchison, presided. With Professor Strong were Miss Violet McMillan, holder of a Sarah Ann Khodcs Scholarship at , Victoria College, Wellington, and organiser of the Home Science Extension Service in the Wellington Province, and Miss Isabel Crowe, of the Home Science Extension Service staff, of,Otago University, both ;of whom later addressed the gathering.

The aims and objects of the Home Economics Association, which has been in existence in the South Island for nearly 13 years, wero outlined by Professor Strong. "We are interested in the same things that the medical profession are interested in, but our aim is prevention gather than cure and we ,want to prevent the conditions which .call for the' work of the medical profession," Professor Strong said. "If we /all understood the scientific aspect of light living and all had the will power to live up to it, we could do away "Jtfith a large part of the disease and debility which' exists." Illness was an expensive thing, costing happiness, time, energy and the enjoyment of life, and a great deal of this was preventable, the speaker continued. It was the aim of the Home Economics Association to try and gather together the knowledge which had been secured Tby scientific people, the researches that had been made and the principles that had been established, and with this knowledge to show their application to everyday life, particularly for the mother in her work in the home. One of the things given by home science more than anything else was a broadening of sympathy, an understanding of social problems and a spirit of co-operation and social service, which was to,be found among all homo science students and graduates. " 'Health, happiness and efficiency,' are our slogans and should be the : slogans of every home-maker," Professor : Strong said. "Home science stands: for the freedom of the home from the dominance of things. When men talk about 'putting women back into the kitchen' they are very much mistaken. Our idea is to help women to be able to> do their work more skilfully and efficiently so that they will have more time to study their children, more time to bring them up properly, and more time to entertain their husbands and themselves, thus making their, home life a very much . happier thing."

The history and growth of the movement iu Dunedin and Chrisfcchurcli were described by the speaker, who said that iu Dunedin there were 32 croups in different suburbs, each of which Diet monthly at thn university for lectures, discussions and demonstrations on various aspects of hoine-life. The movement - thero.iiad reached -over-3000 women, all of whom benefited considerably from the mutual help and ex- • change of ideas. "Back of it all is the feeling that the foundation of our nation'is the home. Every social worker says the same thing. If the mothers . knew their business and would attend to it, theu many problems which are rife in the homes to-day would cease to exist; Professor Strong concluded.