THE SERVANT PROBLEM.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2267, 12 August 1908, Page 1

THE SERVANT PROBLEM.

THE POSITION IN AUSTRALIA

\ COMPARISON IN HOUSE BENTS.

It is not only, in New Zealand that the stringency of the domestic minor market is felt. Judging from, the impressions of a Now Zoaland visitor mattora are apparently as bad, or not worso, in the Australia!’ capitals. Curiously enough the servant girl has m ule her influence folt upon the property market. This much was learned from Mr John Lamb, of AYollington, by a representative of the “Post.” .Mr (Lamb is a buiklor and property owner himself, and lie has just roturnod from a long visit to Australia, his itinerary including four States of the Commonwealth and roaching .from Sydney to tho 'Western Australian goldfields, 110 was naturally interested in house proporty and land values. “What struck mo most in Sydney, said Mr Lamb, “was tho largo number of big houses—some of them quite mansions, which woro in tho market, and not only in Sydney, but in Melbourne too.” ' “An exodUs of the rich?” was hazarded ns a reason.

“Oh, no; not at all,” was tho reply- . ‘ “What do you think is the cause of it?”

“Well, want of servants. What do you think of this: a beautiful 14 or Id roomed house and stable, standing on an aero block, on a corner, too, at ißemviek, went for £l6O0 —a ridiculous price. Again, I saw a magnificent place—l do not know how many rooms; beautifully fitted uji; fine grounds; and situated at Coogce. Tho painting and decorations of the house alone cost £2OOO. Sold for £8000;, dirt cheap; but what is tho good of buying when such places are difficult to dispose of? The fact is the domes- : tic servant troublo is so acute in Sydney and the same in'Melbourne, that people cannot keen up these houses. They go into smaller places or into what are practically flats. They keep np no stylo, of course, so they save there; hut many moneyed men in Sydney are living in a quite modest way, unwilling that their women folk should bo slaves to the house. It is not the wages, not the hours that are at fault; but the general disinclination of girls to take up domestic work and the generally unsatisfactory nature of the work when it is done that is causing this remarkable break up of large establish men ts in Sydney.” THE SMALL HOUSES.

“What about the houses of smaller size?”

“Well, you must know that there is a strong dislike to terraces in Sydney, although terraces of houses are common enough there. I saw some charming little houses at Hose Bay. They were splendidly fitted up for this class of house, built of brick; six rooms and conveniences; land 45ft to 50ft frontage and 125 ft in depth. 1 hey were going for £6OO. A similar house in wood would cost £BOO to £9OO in 'Wellington. There is something wrong somewhere. The faro to the Bose Bay house would be 3d tram, --a boat, single. I saw another brick house in the same locality, magnificently fitted; four bedrooms, drawing room, dining-room, kitchen, scullery, bathroom; large grassed-in playhoiiso in the grounds. This wa6 let at 27s 6d a week, and tho price was £750. The fittings of this house were exceptionally good, and thero were many conveniences.” IN MELBOURNE. “AY hat did you see of tho houses in Melbourne and suburbs?” “Well, Melbourne and all round it is undergoing a rematkablo change. Many of the hitherto fashionable suburbs have gone down in tone, partitooralc and St. ICilda. Many of the hitherto fashionable suburbs have gone down in tone, particularly Toorak Toorak and St. Hilda. Many of the fine family residences, some of them mansions, are new boardinghouses. Here, again, it appears, the stringency of the servant problem is causing so many wealthy peoplo .to' reduce their establishments. Thoro is not the style there used to bo, but the ladieß of tho houso have loss worry and less work than they had when maintaining a large house, and, of course, there is a great saving of expenso—but it is not for monetary reasons that this is being done.” SOME TYPICAL BENTS.

“How did the rents for smaller houses in Melbourne and suburbs compare with Wellington “Most favorably. At Hew there is a good deal of activity in the 'building trade, but for small houses—from four to eight rooms. At Moonee Ponds, Ascot Vale, and along the Flemingtoii line generally tho rents for four to six roomed brick houses was 10s to 12s, and for three to four roomed houses 7s 6d a week. It seems to mo that the greatly-enhanced price of land in AA'ellington accounts for the high rents here. AVages are iless in Australia, say £3 whore we would pay. £3 12s; fruit and vegetables are much cheaper; clothes 40 per cent cheaper; other things about the same. Tho rents are as I have stated, but in Sydney they cost a little more than in Melbourne: but nothing approaching the •AA’ellington standard.” In Adelaide Mr Lamb found that house rents were for four to five roomed houses available at from 12s a week, with a Id fare from the heart of the city. A t Port Adelaide they wero much cheaper.