HOUSEWIVES' ASSOCIATION, HIGH PRICES, AND HOUSE ASSISTANTS
[To the Editor of the SPECTATOR.] SIR,—In season and out of season for over five years as a free-lance journalist I have been advocating the formation of a home-makers' guild or housewives' association as a means of raising the standard of domestic work, improving the conditions of domestic service, raising the status of the worker, and coping with the intricate question of high prices. Conse- quently, I was delighted to see in this week's Grocer's Journal
(December 13th, 1924) the reprint of an interesting and amusing article on foodstuffs, prices, and marketing by Mr. F. W. Strack, Manager of the Primary Producers' Bank of Australia, advocating co-operation, not only for producers, but for consumers. He says : " Until the producers of all
foodstuffs unite, and solidly, they will be faced with poor returns . , . The consumers must unite also and see that they get a fair deal. In short, if it is not possible to fix prices by law (and I fear it is not practicable), then consumer and producer must get together."
The dislike to domestic work, as well as high prices, is partly the result of women's ignorance, short-sightedness, some indolence, lack of enterprise and initiative. An associa- tion of housewives including administrators and assistants could do much to remedy our present discontents. High prices are not limited to foodstuffs, and if they are caused by a shortage of supply, then controlled use in the household might do much to lessen or distribute demand. The truth
is that 999 women in a thousand do not realize the power they have as household administrators and assistants, which power might be immensely increased by united actiun. Someone is missing a magnificent opportunity.
Will you allow me to ask those who require domestic workers or situations to write to the Ealing Service of Home- workers, 13 Spring Bridge, Ealing, W. 5 ? It was instituted
last March by two ladies, well-known social workers, to supply house assistants (resident) on the same lines as shop assistants ; time off every day ; experienced young women seeking honourable and responsible work. I had very reluctantly to give up my own "House Assistants' Centre " last Decem-
ber 14th, 1923, because I could not run it and earn my living as a journalist at the same time, and cannot undertake fresh correspondence in this direction as I have not yet recovered from the effects of last year's excessive work. I hope those who have written will accept this apology instead of replies to their letters.
May I also suggest that both employers and employed should advertise in the Spectator ? Because it has never been done there seems to me no reason why it should not be. Judging from letters I have received a very good response would result, and I should say that such advertisements would do much to raise the status of house assistants by appealing to the educated classes.—I am, Sir, &c., ANN POPE (Cook-General).
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