AID FOR MOTHERS

New Zealand Herald, Volume 82, Issue 25180, 18 April 1945, Page 3

AID FOR MOTHERS

HOME SERVICE SCHEME Proposals associated with the setting up of a national home service scheme wore set before a meeting of representatives of women's organisations in the city convened by the Crusade for Social Justice and the Auckland Home Service Association, held in the Social Justice rooms yesterday. The recommendations were suggested by a committee set up in November last and these women have spent a great amount of time and research into various schemes which might prove suitable. The committee felt that the service was necessary for mothers of young children, elderly people and homes where there was sickness or other emergency. It would not cater for women who wanted maids merely to allow themselves more leisure time.

The course of training will have the double aim of offering girls a worthwhile career and employers highlyskilled workers for service in the home. Subjects to be included are housewifery, laundry work, physiology, hygiene, home nursing, first aid, child care, household budgeting, needlework, dressmaking, cooking and nutrition. Payment for trainees was suggested on the same basis as probationer nurses and when qualified they would receive not less than the basic wage when working on a weekly basis. In order that the service aids might work under the beet possible conditions and to protect themselves the committee recommended that they be given every encouragement to form their own association under the same conditions as other public servants. Consideration must lie given to drafting a scale of hours and conditions to govern all types of employment. The problem of recruitment was also discussed and will be solved by making the work a career with freedom for an independent life, congenial companionship, security from exploitation, ensuring good relations with employer, as well as suitable status and rates of pay. Smart uniforms were also considered as an inducement to girls to take up the work. The meeting was presided over by Mrs J. T. F. Mitchell.