HELP FOR MOTHERS.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 869, 16 July 1910, Page 11

HELP FOR MOTHERS.

(To the Editor.) ' Sir,—Tho members of tho Trades and Labour Council who formed the deputation to tho Prime Minister to protest against tho' introduction of domestic workers, were evidently under the impression that the 'workers proper were being made use of by tho "rich" to satisfy tho urgent demand for girls. Such is not the case and this was specially pointed out. at tho time., Every weak

spot in tho system was pointed out by. one or other of the speakers. I say emphatically, and'l am a worker and my husband likewise-rthat by a little self-denial I. can afford 10s. per week for help and not lesson in any way tho food or anything els'o pertaining to it A washer-woman costs us ss. and-6s. a day and her food. . Eight or '10s. is little more. . And . how', many hundreds of women aro "making good" with the sole help "of, a washer-woman once a week? Get a healthy ' young .help—work her 4 •hours, one, hour ,rest—then,: another i hours.' Do your own washing if necessary. ' I quite agree that many women are not fit to be mistresses, but how about some men? J ..notice very funny things crop up, in Arbitration Court reportsl anent tho treatment of men by employers. ■ ••■'

I, understand that if. young domestics are imported they are to bB wards of the State or Dominion': and will not' be available for the rich, but for us poor weary mothers.--! am, etc.,. A WEAEY MOTHER. Sir,—Pleaso give me spaco in your valuable paper for a few lines on the "servant girl". question. As I had 10 years as . general servant in my single lifi', I don't blame any girl preferring uny other work to house work. She will get enough and'to spare when she gets married. But, that is not why I write. The trouble is firstly' the' name,, general servant is not good enough, or the "lackey," as, the snobs term them, or "slavey"; secondly, to be looked down on by other girls who work in shops and are no better by birth or education. Tho first thing a, servant girl is asked to do is to' don cap, and apron to make a distinction, to have meals in kitchen, then to bow and scrape not only to those who employ you, but to all their friends and relations.. If a servant girl marries what is termed a good match, everybody says: "Fancv, and she'was only Mrs. So-and-Sd's servant!" Half the women-folk today in New Zealand, have either been a servant girl or their grandmothers have, but they wouldn't dare say so, as that would be' lowering themselves. It is a fact all the same. When people will put that pride aside, because God-lias given some people more of this world's goods than' others, "if those people want help in. their homos, let' them go into their churches, and seek out a girl and respect that girl as they themselves wish to bo respected. Treated, as ono of themselves, any girl, no matter how poor, would learn .to love her mistress and family—a family help.' Why, there would bo too many instead .of too few. - Until a , common servant is lifted up a rung, or two the poor drudge will always be scarce.—l am etc., : ' EQUALITY. Sir,—Referring to the columns in. your issue of- to-day, under the heading "A Real Danger," I, would like to express my'yiev;s concerning the very.'serious position the Dominion is at present placed' in regarding the shortage of household help. It is only rational for one to think that the evil practically commences at the Government's hands. For years past they have been employing a large proportion of our girls in their various Departments at a modinni wage. I think if male labour were given the preference, it would force a much larger percentage of girls.to other employment, and seeing that factory labour is limited, a' fair proportion of these girls would, no doubt, find their way into.opr homes as domestic helps. Have the Government not thought of this before, or do they prefer importing girls from the Old Country whSo there are plenty within our own bound- . ary?—l am, etc., ONE WHO NEEDS HELP. July 13.