GIRLS' HOSTELS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 17935, 14 May 1920, Page 3

GIRLS' HOSTELS

The Anglican Church in this city has latterly been taking up much ihore social work tlian it has ever done before. A good many people are under the impression that a hostel would deprive them of domestic service. A more ludicrous mistake could not possibly bo made. Domestic service- in the past has been made hateful by the fact that it means work which was never done; and until it was made quite clear to girls that domestic service is much more attractive than factory life, we shall never see domestic service as it used to be--and a good thing, too, in many cases. The hostel is intended for girle who are not even remotely likely to be in service, but who come to Dunedin without any knowledge whatever of the city; who are likely to drift into undesirable lodging houses and in many cases to got into Borioua trouble and suffer loss of character from sheer ignorance and youth. Tho British Government is inaugurating a large scheme of emigration for young, girls. Aβ .n, preliminary step two women wre despatched to the dominion to inspect and report on the capabilities of the various colonial cities for receiving- these girls; and on their return it was emgahatioally decided that in no circumstances would any. large number of girle be sent to any city whero there were no hostels—so that those excellent people' who desire to avoid subscribing to a hostel, on the plea that it it will - take away their servants, are in reality doing their best to perform tho "happy despatch"''on their hopes of over getting a servant again. Dunedin is in this respect very much behind the times. In Auckland a hostel for 100 girls is being built, with kitchenettes and separate cubicles; and it is intended that, it all works out as has been planned the cost to each girl will not amount to more than 7s 6d pen: week, exclusive of food. The Metnodists and Roman Catliolics in Auckland arc also engaged on fcho 6ame work, so that there is a widespread consciousness that this work is a social , effort of the greatest importance and mag- ' liitude.

The Anglican Hostel is undor the auspices of the Girle' Friendly Society, which hopes to have in the hostel a large rest room lor girls working m 'the city—ia room whore girls can come in at the lunch hour Mid rest, read, or write as they wish and where they will secure all the quiet leisure erf a dub room. Besides tins, tiiiero will he the residential iiostel, much on the lines of tho Y.W.C.A., which itselt is at present overflowing. Theec hostels will be a decided advance in social progress, 'lhey will be under tiio management ot capable comnu'ttoes, and the eommittcte in their tura will see that the right sort of people are" put in oHargo of the hostel to secure the mor.iA and physical welfare ot their inmates. • Every father who sends a daughter to Dunedin to live'- in the doubtful and mixed company of a common lodging house vv. recognise that it would be inlinitely bettor for his daughter if 6bo were in a house where her mond and spiritual welfare would bo a matter of as nimoh core as he; physical well-being. Such institutions humanis.e btunrosi; and in these duys <>. large Joint stock cotnpanice and combines of banks aild businoas houses, it is more vitally necessary tluui ever to secure for the woi-kora the realisation thai; their einployer are human beings, who have a human interest in thoso who work for them, and aro not as a celebrated w-ntor otia. Slid "soulless machine without bowels a. compassion." Building ohirrchea for worship is necessary, but how much mo, necessary is it tlutf. the community should, cither as u. civil or religious unit, seo tlu. tho conditions of life during youtn aro such that no f.vbidivblo dangera should bo m ciiiTcd oifchec at home or in business? l< i volution is the result of social mjunw; which have bitten deep into tihe hearts ami conscience of men. Ho is the far-seeuig man who makes social revolution impoOTblc , by securing for every worker a life whacl provides tho opportunities* of kdaure and rt j Ht that nature craves. It ia an o adng? that " brusinees ia business," but ii i-, ih'.' i-.-iusinofls of 'all jrreat employere < ]■:'■ -\y ;n seo trtat their bueiaeee is founder: 0:1 [':' rock of the bappincse utd oaotent at Li''ji worketfc