HONEY WANTED

New Zealand Times, Volume LII, Issue 12198, 24 July 1925, Page 3

HONEY WANTED

TO HELP YOUNG MOTHERS PRIME MINISTER’S PROMISE. Proceedings were not lengthy when a body of ladies, representative of the Mothers’ Help Division waited upon the Prime Minister yesterday to aak for funds. Sir Maqj Pomare, Minister for Public Health, accompanied them. To the Prime Minister: “Now then, ladies, what is it?” Mrs E. Coleridge rose. She explained the work of the division which six years ago had begun to supply domestic helpers to young mothers m the city. They wished to raise the status of domestic workers, and had started with two workers. Now they had seven. Literally, they went to all sorts of homes. _ They had been to the home of a Cabinet Minister, and they also went to those of people who were down and out. Frequently the Plunket Society appealed to them and they were glad to collaborate. Last year the Government had given them the sum of £l5O, and they had engaged another helper. So they hoped for more assistance. They had a sliding scale of charges and did not encourage pauperism, said Mrs J, Darling. Where people could afford to pay, as in the case of Cabinet Ministers, they paid in fu]l. Mr Coates: I thought there was only one Cabinet Minister.' Mrs Darling: Oh, yes. Mr Coates: I don’t know who he W *Mrs Darling: We could tell you. Mr Coates: You see I cannot remember having one of the ladies in my house. . , _ , Mrs Darling: Well, we should be very pleased to send yon one if you. wanted it. OF NATIONAL IMPORTANCE She went on to outline the expenses to which the work was subject, such as car fares, telephones and salary, and to ' give details of cases which thev were attending at the momentThey really thought the work of national importance, and «> far Wellington was the one centre winch had attempted it. Other towns had written in and inquired about it, but were afraid of the finance. , - To the Prime Minister, she replied that they raised funds had a be 9 and, of course, received fees. The members of the division al*> snbscnbed. Mrs Coleridge: And we get it from our friends. We are a perfect pest to % r W Collins also spoke in support of *V&'SW 1 psted m the people who could wort to Ay at alirthe Prune Minister. Vhat appealed to him wasthe work amongst those who otherwise e °The° Prime Minister (to the Minister for Health): Well, Sir Mam, tew you anything to say? 7 Sir Maui Pomare: Oh, no. You can t beat these ladies for pleading. It was just a question of how far, they could call upon the general femd, laid Mr Coates. They could not have ”*s«g inet to consider increasing the amount.