THE LADY HELP.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2149, 3 August 1907, Page 4

THE LADY HELP.

As a side contribution to tho complex question of How to obtain and keep domestic servants, a decision given by Air. Acting-Justice bly m Chambers is interesting, though to reduced gentlewomen who accept positions as lady lieljis it may be something of a shock (says tho Sydney Aforniug Herald). Tho case submitted was one in which a- female had been engaged as lady help at an establishment at AVarren, and the contract contained a stipulation that she was to assist in all household duties except' washing. According to her employer’s evidence, tho lady help left after a brief experience of life at AVarren, and when asked for an explanation he was informed by his former employee that she was not cut out for a life of servile domesticity. As the “young person had not recouped him the expense of bringing her up to AVarren, and declined to resume her job, she was

prosecuted under the blasters and Servants’ Act for absenting herself without reasonable excuse. Being fined, she at once appealed on the ground that lady helps came not within the purview- of the Act mentioned. Air. L. Armstrong, who apposed the contention, pointed out that in Murray’s dictionary a lady help was defined to he “a woman engaged to perform domestic service on the understanding that she is to be considered and treated by her employers as a lady.” Counsel put it more concisely, if less artistically, by saying “It means that she is to called Miss Smith, or Aliss Brown, instead of using her front name.” The appeal failed, because Ins Honor found that “household duties” in the contract and “domestic duties” in the Act were identical in meaning.