A History of the Ministry of Information, 1939-46
* IV. MENDING SERVICES
New Series 30
Pots and Pans, Electrical and Plumbing Repairs
An Inquiry made by the Wartime Social Survey for the Board of Trade
Interviewing was carried out during the period 30th December, 1942 - 12th January, 1943
A sample of 2,838 housewives was interviewed. These were selected in representative proportions from different regions and income groups.
The purpose of this inquiry was to measure the demand for mending services (pots and pans, electrical and plumbing repairs) and to find out whether housewives were experiencing difficulty in getting repairs done.
An inquiry into the demands for other types of mending services, clothing, boots and shoes, bicycles, watches and clocks, and wireless sets, and the difficulties experienced, was made by the Wartime Social Survey in October, 1942. In that inquiry a general sample of the whole population was interviewed. It was thought that information about the types of repairs considered in the present inquiry would be obtained better from a housewife sample than from a general sample.
Breakdowns of questions asked of the whole sample have been made by five regions, by urban and rural districts, and by two income groups.
It was found, however, in most cases, that differences were not great enough to have statistical significance.
The proportion trying to get repairs done is small, and the ratio of the margin of error to the proportion trying to get repairs done, for instance in the different regions, is large, so that a very much larger sample would be needed to bring out statistically significant differences if indeed there are any differences.
However, this inquiry shows that if there are differences between different regions, they can only be small ones.
I. Pots and Pans
Housewives were asked, “Have you tried to get any pots and pans mended during the last three months?” ”Did you have any difficulty?” “Pots and Pans” included saucepans, steamers, frying pans and kettles.
Replies were as follows:-
| % | |
| Have not tried | 92.9 |
| Tried. No difficulty. | 2.4 |
| Tried. Succeeded after difficulty. | 0.6 |
| Tried and not able to | 4.1 |
| Sample | 2857 |
Only 7% of housewives had tried and more than half of these had been unsuccessful.
Breakdowns by region, by income groups and by urban and rural show no statistically significant differences.
Those housewives who had tried to get pots and pans mended and had experienced difficulty, or had been unable to, were asked what the difficulty was.
Replies are given below, the percentages being based on the number answering.
(Two gave two reasons and percentages add to 100.8)
Those who had tried to get pots and pans mended were asked, “Would you have tried to get this mended in the ordinary way, or would you have bought a new one if possible?
| % of those trying | |
| Would have had mended | 37.0 |
| Would have bought new | 32.0 |
| Some new, some mended | 0.5 |
| No information | 30.5 |
| Sample | 203 |
(“In the ordinary way” was defined as “if there had been supplies in the shops equal to those of peace time”).
It should be noted that the question demands an effort of imagination on the part of the housewife, who is required to say what she would have done in different circumstances. The results are, therefore, open to some doubt. However, they indicate certainly that the demand for tinkering services has substantially increased.
II. Electrical Repairs
Housewives were asked, “Have you tried to get any electrical repairs done during the last three months?” “Did you have any difficulty?”
Both repairs to electric domestic appliances such as irons and fires and repairs that had to be done inside the house were included.
| % | |
| Have not tried | 87.8 |
| Tried. No difficulty | 7.1 |
| Tried. Succeeded after difficulty | 2.0 |
| Tried and unable to | 3.1 |
| *Sample | 2841 |
Breakdowns by region and by urban and rural show no statistically significant differences.
There are some differences, however, between the different income groups.
| Classes A and B | Classes C and D | Total | |
| % | % | % | |
| Have not tried | 76.6 | 91.6 | 87.8 |
| Tried. No difficulty | 13.5 | 4.9 | 7.1 |
| Tried. Succeeded after difficulty | 3.9 | 1.4 | 2.0 |
| Tried and unable to | 6.0 | 2.1 | 3.1 |
| * Sample | 749 | 2073 | 2841 |
It will be seen that a higher proportion in the upper income groups had tried to get repairs done.
Those who had had difficulty or had been unable to get electrical repairs done were asked what the difficulties were. Replies were as follows:-
| % of those having difficulty | |
| Delay. Shortage of labour, etc. | 53.0 |
| Had to wait for parts needed | 23.8 |
| Shops refused repairs | 12.2 |
| Work was done badly | 6.1 |
| Expensive | 0.7 |
| No information | 8.2 |
| Sample | 147 |
Delay for various reasons was the main difficulty experienced.
III. Plumbing Repairs
“Have you tried to get any plumbing repairs done during the last three months?” Did you have any difficulty?”
| % | |
| Have not tried | 85.0 |
| Tried. No difficulty | 9.5 |
| Tried. Succeeded after difficulty | 2.6 |
| Tried and unable to | 2.9 |
| Sample | 2857 |
Breakdown by income group gives the following results.
As in the case of electrical repairs, a higher proportion had tried in the upper income groups than in the lower.
Breakdowns by regions and by urban and rural show no statistically significant differences.
Housewives who had had difficulty or had been unable to get plumbing repairs done were asked what the difficulty was.
| % of those having difficulty | |
| Delay. Shortage of Labour, etc. | 56.8 |
| Difficulties with landlord | 16.8 |
| Job was badly done | 9.0 |
| Shortage of materials | 7.2 |
| Miscellaneous | 1.2 |
| No information | 9.0 |
| Sample | 167 |
It will be seen that a higher proportion had tried to get electrical and plumbing repairs done than had tried to get pots and pans mended. However, difficulty was slightly more frequently experienced by those trying to get pots and pans repaired than by those who wanted electrical and plumbing repairs done.
In the case of all three types of repairs, delay, often due to shortage of labour was the difficulty experienced by the greater proportion of those having difficulty.
SAMPLE
Total: 2858 housewives
THE QUESTIONNAIRE
Wartime Social Survey
Mending Services
New Series No.31
Interviewer.........
Town.........
Date.........
* 10. Have you tried to get any pots and pans mended during the last three months? Did you have any difficulty?
Have not tried 1
Tried. No difficulty 2
Tried. Succeeded after difficulty 3
Tried and unable to 4
10a. If difficulty, or unable to What was the difficulty?
10b. If tried
Would you have had this mended in the ordinary way, or would you have bought a new one if possible.
Would have had mended 1
Would have bought new 2
Some new. Some mended 3
Don’t know 4
11. Have you tried to get any electrical repairs done during the last three months. Did you have any difficulty?
Have not tried 1
Tried. No difficulty 2
Tried. Succeeded after difficulty 3
Tried and unable to 4
11a. If difficulty or unable to
What was the difficulty?
12. Have you tried to get any plumbing repairs done during the last three months? Did you have any difficulty?
Have not tried 1
Tried. No difficulty 2
Tried. Succeeded after difficulty 3
Tried and unable to 4
12a. If difficulty or unable to What was the” difficulty?