The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. GISBORNE, JUNE 24, 1903. A DOMESTIC DIFFICULTY.

Gisborne Times, Volume IX, Issue 924, 24 June 1903, Page 2

The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. GISBORNE, JUNE 24, 1903. A DOMESTIC DIFFICULTY.

Tile domestic servant difficulty is to lie one of Hie problems Parliamens will shortly be called on to solve. Petitions are being signed in different parts of the colony, praying (hat the Government adopt a scheme of immigration of young women willing to become domestic servants. A variety of reasons are given why a step of the kind should lie taken, the result, we are (old, being that a

“ very heavy burden is cast on th mot Iters of families who are willin, to pay, and to pay highly, for lln services of their domestics, hut win arc unable to procure such assistance ■, . . whereby many people tire giv ing up housekeeping, and others an

leaving New Zealand altogether.” The latter is a startling statement, and in the interests of the public we ask for some proof. If there are people leaving this grand country because they cannot get domestic servants, we should like to know the number ; also as to what wages were ottered before those people gave up hope of obtaining such domestic help. That there is a scarcity of

domestic servants is undoubted, hut there must surely' he some easier way of getting over the difficulty than asking (lie Government (o step in and run people’s households For them. We have no doubt that Mr Seddon would he quite equal to (he occasion ; ‘but even lie would not keep the impelled girls restricted to

domestic service if more aUraefivt vocations were open. Probably hi would he the lirst to assist, them In forming a union and with the threatened preference to unionists carried this far there might he room for complaint at people leaving the colony. However, it is not our purpose now to deal with the subject at any length, but we take the opportunity of asking the petitioners to state specifically how many people are leaving the colony altogether because they cannot obtain domestic servants.

A meeting of the East Coast Railway League lias been called for Friday afternoon, at 3 o’clock. Ilargains in new ami second-hand goods arc offered at Goldworthy’s Corner. Captain Edwin wired yesterday:—Gale from between north and west and southwest ; glass fall; tides decrease ; indications rain. East Capo advised yesterday:—N.W. fair breeze ; barometer corrected 30.03; thermometer 58 ; gloomy weather ; rough sea. A conference of members of local bodies and representatives of the local freezing works will be held in the Borough Council Chambers this evening at 7.30, to consider the question of the Waimata water scheme,

fourth <i is < onneetion With i :.e L,j -.Vie A.-mly iVii! be held in ! hi- Acn.de::,y of .Music ; 10-IJJOrroW CVeliliiy. Oliicia! intimation Was received! last night of the appointment of Air ! it. N. Jones as President of the! Native Land Council, Registrar of Leeds, and Judge of the Native j Land Court, the appointment to date ! from July id. To eat . «; w::h inrcre.-t that L,.'. y Ais'.- Company \vi:l p ly a visit ou Aiouday and TuceifJth and 14th July. Tiie Company i- Saul to be one of the most evenly uaiaucHl cciiihiimtions of artists that Mr Rickards has - tnt to Ls.v.- Zealand. The. I luddart-Parker Company's si earner Westralia will lie i. clayed tiiis week, and intending passengers are requested to note that the steamer will lea 1 , e lor .South at ‘J on Friday morning, 'l'he Jirsl launch will lie on arrival. The steamer leaves Auckland to-morrow morning.

At tile Police Court yesterday moiumg, before Air Rattuu, hi.AL, nil old Native named Xnpenc was charged with in leccnt assault, lie was captured in the Urewcra Country by Retentive Mixon. Accused pleaded not guilty, lie was committed for trial at the next sittings of the Supreme Court, Rail was allowed, self in XiUU and two sureties of X'oU each.

Jiy advertisement in another column Alts Fernandez anumitnes tiiat she is prepared to receive pupils for the pianoforte. Airs Fernandez has a high reputation as a pianist, and parents desirous of having their children taught, would do well to trust, them to her care. Terms can he obtained on application ; address, No. 11, Childers road.

A capital programme has been arranged for the Fancy Dress Carnival'to be held at the Fin pi re Skating Rink this evening, and there should be a crowded attendance. Several races will be run off between half-past, 8 and ■), and an exhibition of trick skating will be given by Air Alt'. Skipworth. Last week a complimontury concert was tendered to Miss ivy Amboy, tue famous contralto singer, by the Indies of Auckland, under the patronage of the Countess of Ranfurly. Miss Ausley proceeds Home shortly to undertake a course of study, and we understand she intends touring the colony prior to her departure, and will visit Gisborne with her concert company in a month’s time, With reference to Miss Ausley's singing tho Auckland Herald says Miss Ausleys’ voice is one of more than ordinary promise, its quality being rich and sweet. Sue has learnt already many of tho branches of the art of singing, and has a groat opportunity before her. Hard work and persistent effort to overcome such faults as so young a singer is almost bound to have, will, if wo mtstako not, result in tho successful development of a remarkable vocal organ. A great charm in Miss Ausley’s voice is its sympathetic inflection, and, moreover, she shows a good grip of tho art of expression, In enunciation she has little to learn, whilst her intonation is correct. Tho young contralto's future career, her studies at Home, aud her advancement will bo watched with interest by her many friends and well-wishers.