SOCIAL WELFARE WORK.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16330, 20 January 1921, Page 6

SOCIAL WELFARE WORK.

NURSE MAUDE'S SCHEME. AN URGENT NEED.

Nurse Maude’s proposal, as outlined in the “Star” yesterday, to attach two or more domestic helpers to the district nursing staff was highly commended by various social welfare workers to-dat'. The Rev Frank Rule, a Probation Officer, and a well-known social worker, said that he could heartily endorse all that Nurse Maude had said regarding j the need for an organised band of temporary domestic helps. He had had j a scheme of this nature under consideration for some years past, but had been unable to bring it to fruition owing to the difficulty of financing it, and the many calls on his time in other directions. He had four orphanages under his care, and these kept him fully occupied. It was impossible for the orphanages to take charge of children for two or three weeks as it would upset all organisation.

Mr Rule is leaving in the near future cm an extended visit to America and the Old Country, and it is his intention to make inquiries in these countries as to what means, if any, are taken to deal with this problem. Ho agreed with Nurse Maude that the problem was a very serious one, and vitally affected the health of many women. The Rev Percy Revel, Probation Officer, another well-known social worker, said that Nurse Maude’s scheme, if it could be put into effect, would bo a tremendous boon to all classes of the community, particularly the workers. From his experience as curate of the Sydenham Anglican Church he could bear witness to the urgent need for some such hand of women as Nurse Maude had suggested. If women could be found with a sense of vocation to take up such work the success of the scheme should be assured. One difficulty at present was that women would not take temporary work. If, however, they were part of a guild of workers, constantly engaged jn helping those in trouble, there should be no difficulty in getting them to take up such work.

“ In any case,” said Mr Revel. “ tho public can rest assured that if Nurse Maude says there is need for such workers the need is a very real one. Nurse Maude would riot seek to add to her already arduous labours unless there was g6od reason for it.” Miss Effie Car dale, who has been actively associated with Nurse Maude in much of her work, said that the need for a guild or band of temporary domestic workers was obvious. It would be an excellent thing for the community in general and for the working classes in particular if Nurse Maude’s proposal ’could l>c given effect to.