THE IDEAL HOME

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25798, 20 March 1945, Page 3

THE IDEAL HOME

A questionnaire recently issued by the Dominion executive of the Plunket Society for distribution to town and country mothers attending Plunket rooms solicited the opinion of mothers in regard to: (1) the amount of garden thought necessary; (2) number of rooms desirable in a house; (3) co.king and heating facilities preferred; (4) mothers’ preference for a kitchenette or kitchen; (5) advisability of owning a home in preference to renting one. Each mother was asked to state the number of children in her family, and she was also invited to oiler suggestions about housing in general. Of the 2000 forms distributed. 1583 were returned. Fifty-two of those replying had no children; 597 had one child; 453 two children; 271 three children: 115 four children; and 95 had from five to twelve children. The majority of replies indicated that parents with one or more children considered a quarter of an acre of land would be ideal to provide for a garden and other requirements. The number of rooms desired varied with the size of the family, but in general it was stated that a bedroom for each child and one for the parents was necessary. Sunrooms were in demand for use as sleeping perches and as playing rooms for children in wet weather. A kitchen was definitely favoured by mothers with families, and with these mothers, too, coal ranges of the new enamelled type set in a good light were most popular. Motheis with smaller families favoured electric ranges. The open fire was the most popular form of heating, though many Indicated the need for heater plugs, suitably guarded, in bedrooms and living rooms, while 25 per cent, of mothers replying showed preference for central heating. The desire to own a home in preference to renting one was expressed almost unanimously.