DOMESTIC HELP

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 8, 4 October 1919, Page 4

DOMESTIC HELP

Sir,—l have just read with- pleauro'th'e letter appearing in your issue of to-day, and signed H. D. Vavasour. I am not in the least surprised that Mr. Vavasour should write as he does, for I can fully endorse every word that t( he says upon the more than disabilities ■under which a very large proportion of tho women of this country suffer because "of ' the lamentable shortage, of domestic help. There cannot bo n, doubt that an.adequate supply of "domestics" is one of the most pressing needs of tho country. But what does surpriso me is that Mr. Vavasour should bo as one crying in the wilderness, when there are Ibundreds of other sufferers, who instead of tnmciy submitting to tho present conditions should be agitatini m a' like manner. Shortly before tho'war began I interviewed a Danish gentleman—a successful farmer, resident more than 40 years in New Zealand, highly respected, fully competent .from intimate knowledge to explain tho social, economic, and all other conditions of life in the Dominion, —and asked him if- ho would be willing to proceed to Denmark and Scandinavia, on an emigration mission, should tho Government desire to avail themselves of his services. ■ Mr. X (as I shall call him) oxpresscd his Teady compliance. On the strength of this promise I wrote to the Right Hon. tho Premier (Mr. Masscy) telling him all about Mr. X; suggested to Mr. Massey that domestics were very \lifncult to obtain in Great Britain, and said I had no doubt ihat many excellent young wornen would cumo out here from Denmark and Scandinavia wore tho conditions explained to them by a man of Mr. X's special qualifications. I reminded hiin that in. years gone by we had had largo numbers of immigrants from those countries; - that they had proved most estimable settlers, and I strongly urged tho Prime Minister to avail himself of this unique opportunity of securing Mr. X's services., I pointed out to him that, because of iiho absence of domestic help, hundreds of women in tho Dominion were spelling their lives in a constant round of drudgery and toil, when they slioul.) be enjoying the ideal stato of "ease and, alternate labour;" I also pointed out that, because of tho domestic shortage thebirthrato must bo interfered with, and that even tho'se whoso circumstances would permit them to Jiay the high wages now ruling, could not gel; their wants supplied, and knew, no such thing as lilie domestic.tranquillity and peace to tvhich they wero justly entitled. I also pointed out that for the samo reason people of means were leaving'the country, and I that others with means, whom it was j desirable, to attract to our slhores, avoidi ed us like tho plague, because they I would not face the discomforts which - they aro well aware that residence in this country would entail. Tho Prime • Minister wrote to mo in reply that the ! Government., had no desiro to send an j eii"""r;itioii agent to Europe. | While Mr Massey was at Home I j wrnte in practical;;.- the .'•.•vuc terms to • tho Minister of Immigration (Sir Francis : Bell), and with a similar result. In j neither case was there any attempt to j refute, my statement:*. I Now what are the functions of a Mini.;- | ter of Immigration? Is he appointed ! for the purpose of impeding or of encouraging suitable'people to come to New ; Zealand? Mr. Massey am! Sir Francis < Bell know as well as anybody what I the needs of '-he country are in |,V« I respect, but do -nolliing. They both | know that if a thousand servant girls I Here to land in -Wellington tci-morrow j people would be iiistling one another b obtain their services, and Hint sili of tiiem could obtain situations within u week, Tihcy also k:u)w quite well that

an aden.ur.to supply cannot ho obtained from England, but could be readily procured under the scheme which 1 suggested to them. lam widl awaro that in view ot tho whipping, difficulties it could not he earrie<l out at once, but provision could.bo mado now.to give. -effect to it as soon as the difficulties .in this.respect becomo less acute. Tho ieasou why they will not niovo is not far to seel;, and yet if either of these gentlemen's patriotism was called in question he would appear grossly offended. It would rejoico me beyond raeaiiuro to hear that each of them was reduced to (lie necessity of acting as'his own scullion,, as I havo been many a time and oft. It would mako an.amusing and entrancing -picture. A great wit, writing about his Satanic Majesty, has expressed tiiie opinion that "we can't bin admiro his talents, -when, wo consider that he ciiiirols three-fourths of the human race and all tho politics." How long, are wo. to suffer tho'evils of party Government, iu which votes are paramount, and tlio "eii'are of tho country of secondary consideration!' —I am,' etc., C. J. MONRO. Palmerst'on North, October 1, 1919.