IN REVOLT.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1259, 14 October 1911, Page 11

IN REVOLT.

"The Feminist Movement" is calling forth a number of letters on that subject in the "Morning Post" just now, and in last Saturday's issue Mary Gaunt, the Australian author and travoller, had a.i interesting letter, in which sho points out that, put it what way one will, there is a feminist movement all over the world, and she speaks of a case of tho revolt of woman against he injustice of being treated as a "chattel" oven in far-off Sunyaiu—a territory which lies in. the heart of the rubber country, 260 miles inland from tho coast of Ashanti. Tho story is told with all the noted writer's power of description, and its lesson is well-driven home. The utterances of a widely-cxperi-onoed woman like Mary Gaunt arc listeued to with interest everywhere, and women who feel deeply ou tho subject of the welfare of their sister 3 all the world over, but who may lack the gift of expression, havo good reason to bo grateful to one who, like this Australian-born author, can put the case for tho equalitv of the laws in relation to the sexes so clearly and well. In reference to tho letter of a contributor to the "Morning Post" on tho subject of domestic service and women's distaste for it, she says: "I fail quite to understand what lesson vour contributor thinks ought to be drawn from the fact that even in highly-paid Australia the ordinary girl declines to enter domestic service, and prefers factory life with all its drawbacks. To a commonplace woman like me it would emphasiso tho fact that no woman, likes to subordinate her incomings and her outgoings always to tho will of another, and that there must bo a reform in domestic service. Undoubtedly discipline is a good thing, and discipline we most of us get in this world, but the time has eomo when itrscems a woman may choose her discipline." In the same week appeared an article by Mrs. Fred Aronson, a wellknown Australian journalist, who is now in England, in the "Daily Mail," called "A Real Servant Famine," in which sho says that in Australia the most incompetent and careless of maids can command .£4O per year and endless concessions, while capable ones, of course, can get a great deal more, but even this high rate of wages is not enough inducement—the disinclination for domestic service is the real cause of the dearth of domestics, and girls prefer the freedom (even if it menns harder work) of the factory or restaurant, or possibly an hotel, where the service is more -independent. A woman has to bo exceedingly fond of housework to enjoy doiug it 'for other people. And, as Mrs. Aronson points out, it is these- conditions that make housekeeping in the Commonwealth such a distressful thing to the mistress of the home, who can get no assistance in the cares of the nursery and domestic routine. There seems to be no doubt that the day is not very far off when the home, as wo understand it now, will often be given up for the co-operative system, or for hotel life, as it is in America. However, toe servant question seems to be getting almost as serious in Englaud, and the "general," at any rate, will soon be as extinct as the Dodo. Weddings—Beautiful shower bouquets for bride and bridesmaids. Only the choicest of flowers used, combined with artistic arrangement. Specially • ncked to ensure sate delivery, and sent to any part of the Dominion. Miss Murray, 36 Willis Street (Florist to His Excellency Lord Islington).