DOMESTIC MAIDS.

Gisborne Times, Volume X, Issue 939, 11 July 1903, Page 2

DOMESTIC MAIDS.

(To the Editor of the Times.)

Sir, —Kindly allow me to express briefly in the columns of your valuable paper a few words in defence of the much maligned mistressos and their alleged inhuman treatment towards their servants, depicted fay your correspondent “ Slavey ” in yesterday morning’s Times. I have had an uncommonly large experience of servant maids, both at Home and in the colony, and since I resided in New Zealand I must say I have seen very few hardworked maids. My experience is that they are more disrespectful, unwilling, and never satisfied, and in nine cases out of ten they have much easier times and iutiuitely more. liherty than their mistresses. In engaging a girl it is customary in the co.ouy for the mlßtress to have to consent to the many conditions stipulated by the maid before she will condescend to accept the vacancy offered. As an inscauce one maid recently, on becoming engaged, stipulated before doing so that she always refused to wear caps, answer the doorbell, clean grates, boots, fish, or fowl, scrub the floor, wait at table, or take out children (which sho positively loathed), whilst on the other hand she must have an hour’s practice on the piano in the drawing-room, have a reception in the kitchen every second Friday, and be allowed to attend at least three dances per week.—l am, &c. Matron.