Why not a housewife’s wage?
(Sunday Chronicle: October 31, 1971)
QUITE a lot has been spoken about women who dedicate their lives to their homes and families, and quite a lot has not been spoken.
It seems grossly unfair that no one has so far come up with the idea to give a wage to those honorable females who stay at home.

Time and again, the importance of the family unit has been stressed. Politicians publicly advocate the importance of a strong family unit in the development of a country. Priests stand on their pulpits and scream about how much more holy a closely knit family is than a separated one.
In fact, society as a whole clamour for the strong and perfect home-circle. But how many people are prepared to take time off to achieve anything nearing family relationships.
And when a woman makes up her mind to remain at home, and gives up all claim to an active working or social life, who remembers to reward her? Who thinks of giving her a wage for the highly skilled job she is doing?
No one. No one has yet come up with the idea that a housewife may deserve something more than just thanks.
But they do, you know.
For how many women do not completely disregard their homes for the greater part of the day, while they build a career outside. They pay scant attention to the fact that a child needs more than food, clothes and a goodnight kiss, and uncaringly leave them to the administrations of some strange housemaid.
And when the home and family begins to show signs of lack of care, very few women would be broadminded enough to admit that the fault is theirs.
One woman was honest enough to tell me: “My son is a delinquent. On two occasions, he was put on parole by a Magistrate, but I think it is too late to be sorry.
“You see, I had the opportunity to stay at home, but I chose a career. Now, at the age of 45, I am a qualified librarian, but I have lost the only child I ever had; I just can’t reach him.”
The excitement of her career is somewhat dampened now. On the other hand, had she remained at home, she would have worked twice as hard, with no personal emoluments.
There are those who say that personal satisfaction should be enough for the housewife, but… Is it?
Surely, her zeal for her onerous chores would be strengthened if hubby were to put aside a special fund for her services rendered unstintingly.

(2)
Christmas Lottery may top $20,000
(Daily Chronicle: November 11, 1971)
THE guaranteed first prize in the National Christmas Lottery is expected to exceed 20,000.
This was disclosed by an official of the Government Lottery Control Committee when commenting on the sale of lottery tickets.
He said that as at today’s date, an unusually large number of tickets had already been sold, and if the sales continued the same way, the guaranteed first prize would, for the first time ever, top the $20,000 mark.
The Christmas Lottery is scheduled to be drawn on December 20 outside Bookers Universal Store.
Tickets are being sold at $1.00 each, and quarters can be purchased at 25 cents each.

(3)
Teenage artistry
(Daily Chronicle: October 31, 1971)
TWO teenaged school children will see their paintings exhibited on Guyana’s Christmas stamps this year.
Veronica Bassoo and Ronald Austin will also be awarded prizes for winning a Christmas Stamp competition  for students.
Veronica, of Dolphin Government School, won first prize for painting ‘The Lord’s Prayer’, while Ronald, of Central High, came second with his ‘Masquerade’.
They will receive their awards on November 15 next.
(Clifford Stanley can be reached to discuss any of the foregoing articles at cliffantony@gmail.com or cell-phone # 657 2043)