NO DOMESTIC DRUDGERY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26214, 26 July 1946, Page 8

NO DOMESTIC DRUDGERY

THE AMERICAN HOUSEWIFE “American women can keep house perfectly and still find time for outside entertainment,” said Miss Terry Walker, the Hollywood film actress, in an Interview with " Phillida." Everything possible, she said, was done to eliminate the drudgery or household tasks, and many patents had been put on the market to make the housewife’s working hours fewer and consequently allow her more hours of leisure. Miss Walker explained that the women of her country no longer had to clean and prepare vegetables for a meal. Connected with every market garden was a freezing works, and here the vegetables were frozen as soon as they were -picked. They were theh packed in varying amounts and sent to the retail stores. All that was required for the housewife to do was to put the contents of the packet into water and boil them for about two to five minutes. Meats were also prepared in tills way, and a meal could be got ready in much less time than our methods of cooking would take. “ Special consideration is given to our mothers.” continued Miss Walker, who expressed surprise at the amount of work done by mothers of this country. ”In America," she said, "we now have a napkin service, by which every mother is issued with six dozen napkins, which, for a small fee, are laundered and sterilised. and she does not have continuous washing.” This service, she points out, was not available only to the wealthy, but the moderate fee brought it within the reach of all classes of people. Special baby foods, prepared by steam processing, were available, which for consumption required only a few minutes’ heating. More than ever American women were favouring the square shoulder line in their costumes, frocks and jerseys, said Miss Walker. Instead of having the padding attached to each garment, a fine net blouse with the shoulder pads sewn in from the neck edge to the shoulder edge was worn, and over this was worn the outer garment. The line obtained was smart, and washing of the pads was a simple matter. Swiftly replacing the foundation cream and powder method of make-up was the “ pancake ” make-up, Miss Walker concluded. In appearance and consistency this resembled rouge and was foundation cream and powder in one. It was applied with a sponge and lasted without replenishing for several hours.