WOMEN'S SPHERE.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1756, 22 May 1913, Page 6

WOMEN'S SPHERE.

Sir, —While heartily agreeing willi iris 3 Richmond in her presentment of the case as regards the mistaken education and training of the greater number of our young girls, I do not altogether agree with her suggested remedy—the free kindergarten system. It is quite inadequate, and does not touch tho. moro serious phases of the caso at all. „ I speak as a housewife of more than thirty years' experience (often pianful) of domestic servants, the ignorance and incapacity of many of them being positively appalling. Nor are many of tho mistresses much tetter. They do not know how to do the work themselves, and, therefore, cannot instruct the girls. Htv can we remedy this state of affairs which has so many evil results? Educate and train. Hake it compulsory for nil strong, healthy girls in every station in life to go through a well-arranged course of teaching-, technical, and illustrative, to fit them for their duties in after life as the wives and mothers of the future. Compulsory training in defence is rightly insisted on. Is not the well-being of tho homo and its inmates of at least as much importance? As a practical woman, I cordially agree with Miss Richmond when she says: "Theories of things won't do. the things themselves must bo handled," and would suggest tlu-ft institutions should be provided to carry on the most important work there is to do to-day, viz.: practical training in tho common duties of everyday domestic life for tho young girls of our country, a knowledge- of which, I have reason' to know, they are painfully deficient in. Hero is a golden opportunity for someono to organise such a technical institution.

Tho whole statu? of domestic labour requires raising. Girls, many of them, think it is n disgrace to go to "scrvico," p-.eferring poorly-paid positions in shops or offices; whereas, if proper training could bo obtained, with certificates of competency i for passing examinations, combined with proper regulations as to the hours of labour, and inspection of accommodation provided for tho emplcyees. it seems to me that tho servant fjirl difficulty would bo solved to a great extent. Thanking Miss Richmond for her interesting and suggestive letter.—l am, etc., ' HOUSEWIFE.