MORE ACUTE THAN EVER.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1551, 21 September 1912, Page 10

MORE ACUTE THAN EVER.

NO DOMESTIC HELP. The report from the 'Slnlo Women's Employment Bureau shows that tho difficulty of securing women worker.-; grows more acute with each passing year. Interesting comments on the matter are maclo by tho ■various officers, writes n correspondent of tho Auckland "Herald." , During tho year 3255 applications were made to tho .Auckland bureau,' and iu 1(82 instances tho bureau was unoblo to supply maids. ■ "This fact reveals the acnto slate of tho domestic market in Auckland," ears Miss H. B. Morrison. 'Tew girls leaving school care to take, up domestic work tor a livelihood. Tho shorter hours associated with factory work, and the advantage of living at home with their parents and family, appeal very strongly to young .women; and with this feeling one cannot help but havo considerable sympathy, The future solution of the domestic problem undoubtedly lies krgcly with the mi&ti'csa herself. She cau make tho conditions such that they will attract the girl of to-day to her home, and induco her to remain. I am afraid the mistress of tho private homo has not taken tho question seriously into consideration, otherwise there would havo teen a better attempt on her part to meet the new type of girl now coining into the labour market, who will accept only employment, that is congenial to her. Much, of Hie dislike -to domestic work in duo also to tho uncertain hours and irregular holiday periods." A great dearth nf .domestic workers i'e rqrarkd by. tho Christclmrch -Bffrta.ii. "It is" impossible/" Miw Hiifch'Ml .-tafse, to oxaggerato Hid condition of working funnel's' wivos with families, and 'men coming into meals.. They are bring completely worked out with tho burden of tho work they aro called upon to perform, added to the worry and anxiety of rearing their families, withont, help of any kind. Iheso people, offer good homes niid fuir wages to respectabli) willing girls. Wo havo tho same difficulty in town. Tlio cry is always 'A"o girls to be had.' Thero are a few girls seeking employment (about a h'fth of the number required), biit they mostly want tho lighter class of domestic work, such as companion, help, housemaid, etc. In fact, these girls very often do not want to work at all."

The Dunedin officer makes the suggestion Unit if employers would treat their maids with a little more conrtcsv and extend to them their right to bo called "miss," like , the shop assistants, or "lady" clerk, a better feeling would prevail, and the dignity of tho domestic worker would receive un uplift. This is a vexed question amongst this particular class of worker, especially with the elder ones, who retaliate by advising their sisters and friends not to follow the occupation of a domestic worker,