WOMEN’S COLUMN

Waimate Daily Advertiser, Volume XXI, 13 August 1921, Page 2

WOMEN’S COLUMN

WHAT’S THE VALUE OF YOUR TIME?

Do you ever think Of the time you spend in doing your housework in terms of money? As a working housekeeper in your own home you are in fact earning the amount that you would have to pay another woman to do the housework if you did not do it. Your work may be worth more, tor probably you do a good deal that a paid worker would not, and are a more economical manager. But, at least, you earn as much. Women engaged in their own homes are too little given to considering the, money worth of their time. If you spend an hour, or any number of hours, ore: a certain task, you have not that ti no for something else. It is a question, for careful consideration, then, what portions of the domestic work you can most profitably do yourself, and what you had better pay others to do; what things you had better make at home and what procure ready made. For instance, will it really pay you better to buy fruit and make your jam, or to buy the jam? Probably most women think of the bought jam only, and consider tho difference a clear saving. They should consider it as wages for the number of hours spent in making the jam, and ask themselves if they could have cairned more by giving the time to something else. For instance, if one is skilful at dressmaking, it would pay one better to give the time to making garments for oneself or one’s children than to pay a dressmaker, because one has not time to sit down and sew. Does it pay you better to do cleaning and dyeing of garments at home, or to send them to the cleaners? You cannot tell unless you find out what time tho work takes you to do, see what rate per hour the money saved allows you as wages, and seo further whether or not you could have earned more by doing something else in the time.

The question of what it pays best to do oneself and what to give money for having done will depend on individual ability ; but every woman should put a price on her time.

MISS SYLVIA PANKHURST.

WELCOME ON RELEASE. Miss Sylvia Pankhurst was released recently from Holloway Gaol. Her sentence was one of six months, but by reason of her good conduct the imprisonment was shortened. She did not “ hunger-strike.”

A large crowd gathered at the entrance to the prison at an early hour and waited in the rain. On the stroke of eight a number of people, mostly women, formed themselves into a welcoming semi-circle. Banners were raised, and many carried red flags. There was no dramatic exit, and the “ Red Flag ” was sung many times before Miss Pankhurst appeared.

It was ten minutes to nine when a loud cheer greeted the expected figure. Miss Pankhurst looked grey and wan, and appeared to find it difficult to walk. She was assisted to a taxicab, and the prty moved" off to the Eustace Miles Restaurant, where breakfast was served.

At the meal Miss Pankhurst chatted freely. She said she had been over four months in hospital, and towards the latter part of her stay in the prison had been fed on milk and eggs because she was not strong enough to eat the usual prison diet.

“ I don’t know whether Lloyd George is awaro of tho way in which political prisoners are treated,” said Miss Pankhurst. “ I was not allowed writing materials, nor was I allowed to read and write and to receive visitors.”

Asked what her future plans were, Miss Pankhurst said she did not know. A book 6f hers on Russia was coming out almost immediately. 11 From what I have seen of Russia,” she said, “I am confident that the prison system there is better than it is in this country.”