Domestic Help

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 3, 19 January 1937, Page 6

Domestic Help

ACUTE SH0RTAGE Hotelt and Reitauranto Take Best Workert BETTER RATES 0F PAY For more than the past Six months there ha* "been an' acute shortage of ffomestic help experlenced in tho Hawke's Bay dirtjlct, according to inquirieg mado to-day hy a "Heraid-Trihune" repoxter, and the position is heing aggra vated with the passage of time, ; A few years ago there wa* an overeupply pf domestics, and, although rates of pay were then not neairly so attractive as they are to-day, it was an easy task to fill eny positions which hecame avoilahle. The reasons for this state of affairs appear to he legion. An increased number of openings in other trades and professions, with more appealing cdnditions of work/both in regard to hoiirs and Wages, is tbe primary consideration; then again hotels and restauranta are able to offer better vfages with move freedom than the ordinary housewife, and in consequence, are able to secure the pick of those girls and women who are prepared to take domestic work. The head of one Hastings labour bureau said that. he had numerous openings on his books for domestics, with wages from £1 to £2 a week and cook-generals at £1 to £1 10/-, but he was unable to ohtain applicants for many of these positions. "For "the last six or twelve months the shortage has been most marked," he said, "and it seems to be getting worse, .if atiything.'' The "Herald-Tribune" was also informed that married cauples for farme and boys wero also at a premium. "Employers are offering from £1 5/to £1 15/- for boys, and you. can'fc get them,*' he concluded.