WORKLESS GIRLS IN GERMANY

Waipa Post, Volume 49, Issue 3504, 11 August 1934, Page 4

WORKLESS GIRLS IN GERMANY

TO BE GIVEN DOMESTIC TRAINING. One of the most difficult problems of unemployment the fate of young girls just leaving school —is the subject of an experiment in which the German hausfrau will be called upon to show her mettle. The president of the Labour Exchange, working in connection with the various youth welfare centres, and the centralised Youth Movement, suggests that these girls should be. given a year of domestic training in private households without infringing upon the rights of. the servant or servants already employed. She shall live, as far as possible, as a member of the family, sleep at home if necessary, but be given an opportunity of learning everything connected with household duties. The German Girls' League, an asso-

ciation to which every high school girl of to-day belongs as a matter of course, will supervise the hours off duty, and provide for enjoyable outings, since no pocket money will be given.

Those who know the difficulties of training those fresh from school will lean to the opinion that it is the housewife who deserves remuneration for her trouble, but as a matter of fa,ct she will be expected to contribute to the sickness insurance. She is, in fact, only promised the same reduction of taxation which is now granted to those who keep servants. There will be a contract made that ensures that the housewife shall teach and the girl be willing to learn, but there is a six weeks' probation which provides against any flagrant misfits. The number of girls in question is 600,000. The, idea in view is that by* the time they are trained, practically the same number of domestic servants in. the twenties and thirties will have availed themselves of the marriage bounty, and these newlyfledged apprentices will then be fully equipped to take their place.