WIVES Cr THE FUTURE.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 144086, 3 May 1913, Page 5

WIVES Cr THE FUTURE.

GIRLS’ HOSTEL OPENED. To fit the young girl of to-day to ho able to carry out properly her duties in her homo of to-morrow is tho object of tho Girls’ Training Hostel in Knsor’s Road. Christchurch, which was officially opened on Alonday afternoon. A handsome two-storeyed brick building has; been erected on an extensive section, - ’ and while tho building provides amnio accommodation, the grounds will give facilities for the work of tho Hostel, for the students to work and play under pleasant conditions. A wide, sweeping path leads from tho entrance to thtf buildings, and flower bods aro being planted to enhance the beauty of tho surroundings. At one side of the building a playground has been formed and provision has also been made for tennis and croquet lawns. The architecture of the building gives it a fine exterior appearance, and once inside the visitor is struck by the simplicity of tho up-to-date accommodation. .There is a - spacious hall inside the main entrance from which one can gain access to a largo halt which will be used as a “playroom,” an airy dining-room, a largo modern kitchen, and a flat of rooms which is provided for affording, tho students an opportunity to take lull charge of a home'within a homo. A wide staircase leads to tho ton floor, where there is a sitting-room, the stall’.apartments, and the cubicles for the girls living on the premises. Neatness and cleanliness are encouraged by the design of the whole interior, which goes to make the apartments airy, spacious and simple, hut very comfortable. The 'Hostel is in charge ,of Airs. Gardner and two assistants, and tho work that is being done was explained to a Press reporter by Airs. Gardner. As indicated at tho outset, the Hostel provides training for girls in domestic work and housekeeping generally, so that when the time'comes for a young lady to marry sho is fitted to take up tho' management of the homo, for if sho has massed through the Hostel sho has obtained useful and practical experience. The Hostel, provides living accommodation for fifteen girls who are taken from tho country girls attending tho Technical College. Tho girls spend a year or longer at the Hostel, making it their home~ and during the day they attend tho different classes of instruction at tho Technical College. Thoy do not confine their “studies” to tho, work of the Hostel, but only take part in its daily work when the time arrives for their Particular class at tho College to go in for a course of learning at tho Hostel. It is for all the girls attending the Technical College that the Hostel offers instruction in domestic training, etc. One class of about twenty girls is taken, and for four or ’five weeks they attend the Hostel, at tho end of which time another class is selected to go through a like period of training, and so on until all tho gills who desire this instruction pass through a course of training. An interesting feature of tho work of the Hostel is tho training of the girls in the complete management of “a flat.” A portion, of tho ground floor of the building is set apart as “a flat,” consisting of a small sitting-room, two bedrooms, a bathroom, kitchen, scullery etc. One girl at a time is placed in full charge of the “flat” —just as it she was at the head of her own homo an( J 6 he is responsible for its general management. Sho has to personally supervise 1 the purchase of articles of diet see to 'tho cleanliness of all the rooms, and generally be sole housekeeper. ’ “