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16
any preparations for a known period months ahead, but sickness
or accident or some other misfortune suddenly occurs which makes
it impossible for the home to be maintained without help. All the
domestic helps are employed on the basis of 1s. 9¾d. an hour,
increased to 1s. l1d. an hour from 1st December, 1947, for up to
a 47 hour week plus bus or tram fares. Some can only give as
little as two hours a day but assistance was given to 201 distressed
families during the year. The number of domestic helps employed
month by month varied from 32 to 48, and the number of families
relieved from 56 to 93, the average for the year being 41 domestic
helps employed at any one time relieving 75 families. At the
appointed day, 1948, 70 domestic helps were looking after 165
families in distress.
A visit is paid immediately an application for help is received
to assess the need—how many hours work a week will maintain
the home.—and how best it can be relieved—which domestic help
is likely to get on well with the applicant. Payment is made by
the applicant according to the agreed metropolitan scale. One
visit a week is paid regularly for the time sheet of the domestic
help to be certified by the applicant and at least one other surprise
visit during the week to verify that no " ramp is being worked."
Employment by the hour is well liked and well suited to the
needs of both sides. Many women so employed can take a week
off when they wish as there is no binding tie as would be the case
if employed full time. On the other hand, none are sent far from
their homes and if there is no employment for a week in their
neighbourhood there is no obligation for them to go far away from
home which to the woman with a home to maintain of her own
might be a strain greater than she is prepared to bear.
The staff employed for the service consists of a senior woman in
the A.P.T. grade I and two juniors in the general division.
The cost is reimbursed in full by the Ministry of Health.
Dentures for Expectant and Nursing Mothers
18 (7) applications were received and dentures provided for 15—
cost to Council, £44 11s. Owing. Owing to the increased cost of living
and higher wage rates the scale adopted by the Council in 1942
became out of touch with present conditions. The scale was revised
in March, 1947.
Sterile Maternity Outfits
Nil (Nil).