DOMESTIC MAIDS.
(Per Press Association.)
Sir,—The petition which is being taken around for signature has, I am glad to see, caused some comment. 1 can vouch for every word being true of the statements of your correspondent Slavey,” as I have been through the same ordeal myself I have known what it is to get up at three in .the morning, and go out into the yard to milk, then to wash, and after that, do all the housework and at night do the ironing and make butter. Ido not doubt for a moment that Matron ” has hadi a la,rge experience with servants She may be as • some I know ; engage a girl v and have her for a week or so, then get up a quarrel and abuse the girl in such a manner as to cause her to leave without notice—a plan already arranged so that the girl cannot claim her wages, and what is more, a mistress, or most of them, will not allow a girl proper food. Not only that,* liut she is not allowed time to eat even that, wnich she gets. I know a place in this town where my own girl was at, and when ■she picked .up some fruit they accused her of stealing—and they gave her. the scraps and leavings from their table. As to caps, 1 certainly object to. the forcing of any garment on to (any person against their will; time dnotigh for a woman to wear a cap when she becomes a granny. As for the door bell, grates,, boots, and fish;' that Matron writes of, that js-fiart of the story which, everyone knows"; it is the veriest bosh. And as to the piano, well of coursß it is only proper that every: girl should be allowed to go and have a bang at the piano after she has done her work—that is, if ever she is allowed to call it done. The kitchen . piano is the one I mean ; and as far as the reception goes, a girl need not have her young man call at her place of employment if she were alloivcd to work in'any kind of regular hpum Even' missie has her young man. but poor slavey is not supposed to be auiltv of such a .thing.—l am, etc., guniy o , v bx _ servant<
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Bibliographic details
Gisborne Times, Volume X, Issue 942, 15 July 1903, Page 3
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390DOMESTIC MAIDS. Gisborne Times, Volume X, Issue 942, 15 July 1903, Page 3
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