f family
limitation outweigh the natural advantages of a large family in which
the children develop initiative through companionship.

(_b_) _Housing._--This constitutes an acute problem in crowded city
areas. In many cases houses which are past repair and already condemned
form the only shelter for a growing family. Ordinary domestic and
hygienic conveniences are often lacking. Where a family is able to pay
for better accommodation, difficulties frequently arise owing to the
unwillingness of landlords to accept tenants with children, and, as the
demand for houses exceeds the supply, landlords are able to pick and
choose. The lack also of suitable cottages on farms for married couples
with children probably has a considerable influence on the limitation
or avoidance of families and leads to a premium being placed on
childlessness because married couples without "encumbrances" can more
easily obtain employment. This is an aspect of the problem that should
receive earnest consideration.

(_c_) _Domestic._--Lack of help in the home even by those who can
afford it is a factor of very great importance. This applies especially
to country life, where a woman's whole physical energy is taken up by
attention to domestic matters and often also to farm-work, to the
detriment of family life. The following is an account given to one
witness by a farmer's wife, describing an average day's work:--

"Rise 4.30, have cup of tea--wife to shed, set machines, hubby to
bring cows--start milking 5 a.m., hard going to 8 o'clock; wife
returns house to get breakfast, also see to children and cut
lunches for them to take to school. Hubby feeds calves, fowls, and
ducks, then breakfast. Load milk on express, harness horse, away to
factory mile away--get whey return. Now 9 o'clock, wife has
machines down and washes, hubby hose down shed. Drive whey down to
paddocks and feed 40 pigs, returns, unharness horse, wash cart
down, yoke team to plough, disk, &c. Wife to start housework about
10 o'clock, dinner at 12.30 to be ready, or taken down to paddocks
(if harvesting 3 or 4 men are working). Usual times fencing,
repairing sheds, fixing yards, besides other farm duties till
3.30--afternoon tea--children given something to eat on returning
from school. Husband and wife to sheds again 4 till 7. Hubby washes
machines, feeds calves, &c., wife in meantime has returned house,
washed children