LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

New Zealand Herald, Volume 79, Issue 24370, 4 September 1942, Page 2

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Railway Permits Sir, —Yesterday 1 was at the railway station for a travel permit and was forcibly struck by the inadequate accommodation provided: a table and chair for the official and two chairs for the public, in a vestibule. Privacy is practically nil and its lack must, at times, prove embarrassing to both parties. Surely, in such a large building a small room could be made available or, if not, one or two screens would make conditions much more satisfactory. 1/9/42. Passenger. Homes lor Families Sir, —Is it not time for some action to be taken in the matter of housing for people with families? I am acquainted with a number of families recently moved to Auckland, and as yet unsuccessful in finding a home. When they return from house-hunting the report is always the same. "1 went to see a house —or a flat—but as soon as they found out there were children they turned us down." One man with three children was refused a sevenroomed house on this account. Surely this state of affairs should not be allowed to continue. Once A Child Myself. Age Benefit Inequalities Sir, —Recently alterations to the regulations affecting age benefits have been made, but so far nothing has been done to ease the position in cases where age, or infirmity of the husband compels the wife to go out to earn money to run the house. The sore point is the woman gives up her home life for this purpose, and yet her earnings are restricted, no matter how great the financial difficulties are in that home. Anything in excess of the amount allowed is deducted from the husband's benefit. A man and his wife may each have £SOO, and a home free of mortgage and their benefit is not affected. Another man may have a mortgage on his home an honourable debt to liquidate, and necessary repairs to make to his house, and not £1 he can call his own and yet a wife's earnings in spite of these circumstances are limited. This giving with the one hand and taking back with the other in such instances prolongs the misery of a couple striving to get on their feet. This unhappy position could be remedied if the commission were given power to investigate cases of hardship, and where satisfied allow an increase of wages to be earned where the woman is the bread-winner. Rope Deferred. Domestic Aid. Service Sir, —One of the benefits promised in the Social Security Scheme was a domestic aid service to be supplied in the case of sick or overworked housewives. This promise has never been put into practice, and since it seems that the existing social services, working under great pressure, are unable to cope with the demand, and there could therefore be no question of overlapping, L would suggest that something should be done by private enterprise working in conjunction with the social services. I know of the case of a young expectant mother with another child of 16 months who was taken suddenly ill; her husband, recalled from camp, desperately and unsuccessfully sought for help from the various organisations until the Women's War Service Auxiliary arranged temporary assistance, but this overworked body should be relieved of all such routine services. Thousands of similar cases crop tip every day. Mothers of families and elderly women deprived of their manpower are struggling desperately to keep things going, digging gardens, mowing lawns, chopping wood, the thousand and one jobs which normally fall to the man of the house.

Since all the young women are being rapidly absorbed bv the armed forces or essential industries, my suggestion is that the older women who are fit and well and whose families no longer require their exclusive care should hand themselves in an organisation pledged to help their fellow-women and ready to be called upon in times of emergency. If this organisation became sufficiently large, no undue hardship should be imposed upon any volunteer helper, as she would be called upon in rotation for assistance. Details of (his scheme have been carefully thought out, but space will not permit here to give them in full, but I should be glad to receive the names of women willing to assist in this humanitarian plan, which would be quite as valuable a contribution to the war effort as any other. We have our V.A.D.'s —why not our D.A.V.'s, Domestic Aid Volunteers? Isabel M. Cluett.