Domestic Help Problem

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Volume 81, Issue 77, 23 December 1937, Page 12

Domestic Help Problem

Girls' Objections ^pHAT the domestic help problem is not confined to New Zealand is apparent from the position in Australia. The comments made by a number of girls who were interviewed on the subject speak for themselves; A canvass of girls who hold city jobs calling for patience, endurance, and lots of hard work has proved the contention of the Australian Women's Association in Melbourne that domestic work is regarded as "slavery." * This association asked the Minister of Labour to bring wages, hours and conditions of domestic servants in private homes into line with those offered by guest houses. All the girls intervie./ed preferred coimter work, sundry jobs in shops and restaurants to working in private homes. Cafeteria Attendant: Give me my free— dom. Domestic service is too much of a tie, with long hours and not enough time off. The work is dull. I think a union for domestic workers should be formed to agitate for better hours and better pay. Then there would be more inducements for girls* to take up this kind of work. There is no attraction in domestic service as it is to-day, and reform must come. I worked as a domestic in Canada, but then times were good and money was better than it is to-day. Even so, conditions for the domestics were poor. ' IUk Bar Attendant: One experience of domestic work was enough for me. My mistress made me feel my position, as thougk I wasn't as good as she was. • t found that the work was hard and long. if you do night work in this ggme you get time off or extra money, a thing that is unheard of in domestic service. Standing all day serving in a milk bar is much better to me than cooking meals. Waitress: "I like this job and have been here for nearly three years. I work, of course, from the money point of view and the wages in this game are good. You work your shift and no more. Everythir-* is definite and you know just where you are and you can make arrangements to go out. There is no chance of being imposed on as there is in domestic service. One meets more interesting and congenial people. Woman Attendant in Bottle Department of City Hotel: Apart from the customers, you have no companions here. On the other hand, there is no one to fight with. It is a peaceful place compared with the homes of other people. Here you can knit, sew and read in your off moments. Girl in Bookbinding Trade: "I thinV my trade is preferable to doing housework, which to me is plain drudgery. If you are a maid you have a terrjbly lonely life, with no companions, whereas here in this factory life is congenial. You are working with girls who have the same interests as yourself and you can arrange picnics ard all kinds of outings that you cannot do if you are engaged as a domestic. Again, you see so many different people that you have a chance of picking your friends Life here is more pleasant and there is not the monotony that is in house ork." Factory Girl: "Although life here is monotonous at times, we have .regular hours and there is lots of companionship Most domestic servants I know never see anybody, and if their employers are very superior people they have ppbody U taOc to. Also tbev work till puit® !• • at night and sc1 * I-- -•» n cl fo to the piciu)3^ . y ; ' . > •

and strenuous, but at least you know where you are with it." Girl Tobacconist: "Although girls in domestic work get their keep, and don't have fares to pay, the disadvantages are too great for the job to attract me. Some mistresses, of course, are fairer than others, but that wouldn't compensate for the small amount of leisure time."