COUNTRY HOUSEKEEPERS

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 19988, 13 July 1939, Page 15

COUNTRY HOUSEKEEPERS

W.D.F.U. STAFF DEPLETED “INSUPERABLE ODDS’’ (Tor Press Association.) WELLINGTON, this day. “Only those actually •engaged m the work really know the problems and appreciate the worry of endeavouring to serve efficiently against what seem to be insuperable odds created by circumstances, and general conditions over which we have little or no control,” stated the secretary of the Women’s Division of the Farmers’ Uniton, Mrs. A. B. Smith, reporting to the divisions annual conference yesterday on its housekeeping scheme. “As far as headquarters is concerned, I 'have explored every avenue to maintain a staff of capable women, but -have had to do my best with a skeleton staff, satisfying myself that it is better to decline applications and to retain only a few of the best than to employ at -high wages women who are not suited and have not the personal qualifications necessary -to make them good division housekeepers.” There were G 4 registered housekeepers, as against 70, 12 months previously, the difference being more significant when the extension of the work was considered. There had been a great rush of workers of every class to Wellington. Huge blocks of flats employed housekeepers and other helpers for daily service and, with so much work of that kind offering at high rates of pay, the number likely to consider work in the country was at the minimum. During the year housekeepers had filled 1060 engagements.

Mrs. Smith said the membership of the division had been sustained well, 1033 names being recorded at March 31. Twenty-two now senior branches had been formed, making a total of 538 senior and 16 junior branches.