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98
At 1 Pimlico Road, one of the City of Westminster's Centres, I
learned that an experienced seamstress is paid £50 a year by the
Borough Council to teach at two weekly sessions. Saxony flannel,
Madaplin cotton and wincey are used. Garments are made for the
expected baby and for children up to school age. They are not taken
away until paid for. Old garments are undone, washed and "made up"
into new. A voluntary worker keeps the toddlers in a room with toys
whilst their mothers attend the class.
These are points picked up at some of the sewing classes I visited
in 1922, and the information gleaned will no doubt be helpful.
Lectures for Fathers. This is a genuine proposition and further
consideration was adjourned until a suitable place could be obtained to
give the "talks." Everybody knows that some fathers "push" the
dose of dried milk given to their babies. Suggested subjects are:
"The father's responsibility in over-feeding infants," "The Injury of
late hours to babies and young children," "The wife's health, a man's
consideration."
Home Helps. This should be kept in view. A Home Help is a
woman employed during the lying-in period, to look after the home,
wash and feed the children, mend clothing and make the husband's
dinner. She must not nurse the case nor deliver the woman. She is
paid four shillings a day and food. Not every lying-in woman has a
mother or friend to stand by and do the housework. At the Jewish
Maternity Home, untrained women, kept under the midwives' observation,
are attached to the Home. They are paid thirty shilling a week
while at a case and are given a day or two's pay when the case is
finished. No pay is given while waiting on a case, but the twenty
home helps are usually kept busy. Their pay is partly found by the
patients who pay into a provident fund shortly after becoming expectant.
Even after the confinement is over the young mother continues to pay
into the club for future similar eventualities. If the case is destitute
the Jewish Board of Guardians pay the whole fee to the Home Helps.
A voluntary worker runs the Providential Fund. Contributions are
paid to the clerk at the office of the Maternity Home. Voluntary subscriptions
are also collected towards the cost of Home Helps.
Health Week. The second annual Health Week was held from
October 2nd till October 6th, both dates inclusive, from 2.30 to 8.30 p.m.,
at the Baths. The total cost was approximately £22. The clergy