The women officers on the overseas immigration 

 staff and on this side are part of the Federal immigration 

 machinery and work directly under that Department in 

 their care for, and safe conduct of, the women immigrants. 



The work of the Canadian Council of Immigration 

 of Women begins with the arrival of immigrants at the 

 hostel, and aims to make the Canadian Women's Hostel 

 home-centres for the incoming woman, not only until 

 she finds employment, but at all times a place of rest 

 between change of position, when out of work, home-sick, 

 or in need of advice or recreation. 



Much Fine Work Accomplished 



The reports from these hostels, submitted at the 

 annual meeting of the council, October 5th, demonstrated 

 that a great deal of fine work has already been accom- 

 plished, and the programme for ensuing year gives promise 

 of even better opportunities (aside from recreation for 

 these new citizens) to improve themselves in various ways. 



The hostels in Calgary and Toronto expect to offer 

 this winter, courses in housework to girls willing to avail 

 themselves of this chance of fitting themselves for the 

 positions which pay a large wage but demand experienced 

 house-workers. 



At the January, 1920, meeting, the question of stan- 

 dardization of housework received considerable attention, 

 and it was the concensus of opinion that woman's interests 

 throughout Canada must be aroused to help place house- 

 work on a higher and more business-like basis. Accord- 

 ingly, a committee was appointed, with Lady Pope, of 

 Ottawa, chairman, to collect authoritative opinions on 

 this subject, and gather information regarding the attitude 

 of the country as a whole toward household workers. 



This committee brought in a report to the annual 

 meeting, with suggestions to be sent to affiliated organiza- 

 tions, whose co-operation was sought with a view of pre- 

 paring a scheme wherein the occupation of the household 

 worker would be standardized as to hours, work, and 

 efficiency, and in which the interests of both employer 

 and employee would be considered. 



Unrest in Many Parts 



It was of interest to learn from this report that 

 unrest existed in all countries among household workers 

 as largely as among other workers, even Japan feeling a 

 reaction from pre-war conditions. Persia was found 

 contemplating opening schools to educate houseworkers, 

 and so from country to country research found a chaotic 

 condition in the realm of the household. Sweden, Swit- 

 zerland and New Zealand lead in the effort to solve the 

 problem of how to make housework once again one of the 

 most desirable of occupations for women. 



An important part of the work of the Canadian 

 Council of Immigration of Women is what is termed 

 "follow-up work." This is not meant in any way to 

 interfere with the personal liberty and independence of 

 the newcomers. Its objects are to safeguard, in every 

 way, the best interests of the women, to provide them 

 with a channel through which they may seek redress for 

 grievances and apply for help, at all times, in any diffi- 

 culty. The follow-up work is carried on through the 

 various organizations which are linked up with the Cana- 

 dian Council of Immigration of Women, through the 

 Hostel Superintendents and Hostel Committees, Travel- 

 lers' Aids, etc. 



This question of immigration is a particularly inter- 

 esting and important one, because in it we are dealing 

 not with commercial commodities, but human values. 

 Those who carry on any part of this work in a country 

 like Canada are dealing with the very vitals of a nation. 



The Canadian Council of Immigration of Women is, 

 therefore, a truly national body, whose best efforts are 

 needed at this time to help incoming women to find, and 

 successfully fill, places in the up-building of our country, 

 which holds out to them unprecedented advantages in 

 return for what they bring. 



Housing in Canada 



In common with many other countries, 

 Canada at the termination of the Great War 

 faced a serious house shortage. Whilst the war 

 was in progress, building was at a minimum 

 practically at a complete standstill. Labor was 

 scarce, building material high, and where both 

 were procurable the expense at completion did 

 not justify the proceeding with much construc- 

 tion work in the way of residences. 



Meanwhile, the normal increase in the popu- 

 lation went on and emigration from the United 

 States maintained its more or less even trend. 

 At the conclusion of hostilities, a huge army 

 returned to the Dominion's shores, many of 

 whom had been overseas four or five years, 

 bringing back with them wives and children. 

 To cap this there commenced a heavy flow of 

 emigration from Europe, whilst settlers poured 

 in from the United States at an unabated rate. 

 The situation all over the country was serious, 

 and still remains acute. This may be better 

 understood from the statement of the Winnipeg 

 city housing commission, who has estimated 

 that for a city the size of Winnipeg, two thousand 

 new houses must be built per year to take care 

 of the normal increase in the city's population. 



Government Inaugurates Co-operative Assistance 



To aid in coping with this state of affairs, to 

 assist in the immediate necessity of erecting 

 homes, and partly offset the high cost of con- 

 struction by enabling tenants to borrow money 

 to purchase homes, the Federal government 

 established a housing scheme appropriating the 

 sum of $25,000,000 for the purpose. This was 

 taken in varying sums by nearly all the provinces 

 and supplemented by provincial appropriations. 

 In Ontario, for instance, the total sum appro- 

 priated through both Federal and provincial 

 channels amounted to nearly eleven million 

 dollars. 



The scheme provides for a maximum loan 

 to the individual of $5,100. To soldiers and 

 widows of soldiers killed in action, loans may 

 be made to cover the entire cost of both land 

 and home, if the land is obtained through the 

 local housing commission. In other cases, the 

 borrower must either own the land or advance 

 ten per cent of the total cost to the commission. 



Three Thousand Buildings Erected 



Three thousand new buildings were com- 

 pleted under the scheme, during the past year, 

 and on the whole the scheme is said to have 

 worked out satisfactorily in most places. Mont- 

 real, however, claims it has been a failure in 

 that city, owing to the framing of the law by 

 the Government and the multifarious stipula- 

 tions tagged on by the Provincial Legislature, 

 the chairman of the Administrative Council 



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