DOMESTIC SERVANTS,

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2024, 8 March 1907, Page 4

DOMESTIC SERVANTS,

THE MISTRESSES’ I’OJNT OF VIEW. In connection with the domestic workers’ trouble, Mrs Annie Williams, of Hobson street, Wellington, hns taken up the cudgels on behalf of tho mistresses. Writing to tho secretary of tho union she says: “I am sorry I cannot sign your paper of claims made by the Domestic Workers’ Union. I fully sympathise with any of tho domestic workers who may bo overworked by tlioir employers, but I fool sure tho law is in tlioir own hands, and they can make tlioir own terms. I have employed domestic workers for ovor -10 years, and feel I am justified in giving my opinion on tho subject, and that it ought to have some weight. It lias always boon my aim, and has boon I know that of many other employers, that their domestic workers should have a comfortable home, and I have always taken much interest in tlioir wolfaro. From all I can bear there are a very largo number of domestic workers who are much averse to tho projected claims becoming law, and they will give up service if they do. My domestic workers have already all tho privileges that are set forth or demanded in your claims, but they do not all leave my house at the same time, and tlioir hours of rest are at intervals arranged between them and myself, as also tlioir holidays, and they have hitherto been quite satisfied. Every household is worked differently, and I think those who keep moro than one domestic worker should be able to arrange that their house should not bo left without one or two domestic workers, as may be arranged, and that their holidays should be on different days. What is to happen should there be sickness either to tho employer or domestic worker in a house? Private houses are not like shops or manufactories, which can be shut up at will. Should your claims become law I am afraid relations botween employers and domestic workers will become very strained, and all the comforts of home disappear. lam speaking for the domestic workers’ good and comfort quite as much as for the employers. I could say much moro on the subject but I refrain. I feci I am expressing the opinions of many of the employers and domestic workers as I write. At the sanio time I cannot help thinking that tho claims are mado by people who do not understand fully domestic work in a liouso where nioro than one domestic worker is kept, and there ought to be some provision mado in that case. I have always found my own domestic workers (with one or two exceptions) most kind and considerate in every way to me. I think if all employers and domestic workors would attend to the Divine command, ‘Do unto others as you would have others do unto you,’ there would be no necessity to make these laws, and create strife between tho employers and domestic workers.”