A Vicar's Household.

Levin Daily Chronicle, 1 December 1917, Page 1

A Vicar's Household.

SEVEN SERVANTS TO WAIT ON ONE MAN. Koss (Herefordshire) tribunal last month resumed the hearing of the claim for exemption for William Baskervillc, gardener to th c Rev. Theodore Emmott, vicar of Walford-on-Wye, who admitted that he keeps four inenservants and three maidservants at tho vicarage where he lives alone. The ease had been adjourned for thc vicar to explain his need of all these ser-vants-(s'oys the "Daily Mail").

Thc Chairman (Alderman Preeco to tho vicar: How many menservants have you at the vicarage?

The Vicar: A butler (a coloured man), coachman, and gardener. ■The butler and coachman arc over military age, the groom is 18 next month and will go, and Baskerville is 37.

All able-bodied?— Well, yes.

Do you consider it necessary to keep all these servants?—l am bound to have men. I have two engines, one for electric light and one for drainage attended to by the • butler and gardener.

Mr Protheroe, a member of the tribunal. How many female servants have you?— Three — cook, housemaid, and general servant.

The Chairman: Have you any family?—No; my wife died a few months ago.

Do you consider it patriotic ,that you are doing good to your country, by keeping seven people to wait on you in these times?—l must have someone. The horses want looking after. I have a large parish with two churches to attend to.

Mr Protheroe: Don't you keep a curate —Yes, but I have to attend to work.

The Chairman: What land have you? —About 20 acres, grass chiefly, which requires looking after. The garden is 11/?l 1 /? acres, and requires the attention of expert men.

Mr Wyndham Smith, the military representative: I have two acres of garden and no gardener.

The Chairman: I have to do my own garden.

The Vicar: Baskervillc will never stand war service. He will soon be "knocked in," not being fit for it.

The Chairman: We know his child is with its grandmother, and that Baskervillc is a widower, so that the claim on domestic grounds must fail.

Mr Child, a member of the tribunal: Has the coloured man always been in the house and never done any labour outside? —Yes; he is not skilled, and waits on me.

Mr Child. TBis man is only passed CI, and the question is whether he is any good for the Army.

The Chairman. He can go to other employment of greater national importance. We don't want seven people to wait on one.

Mr Murdoch: We gave Baskervillc this chance before, but he did not accept it.

After a private consultation, the tribunal dismissed Baskervillc's claim to exemption on domestic grounds. "As for there being any need for you in your present employment," said the chairman, "we further consider there arc no grounds to substantiate that claim. It may not perhaps be within my duty to express an opinion on the fact that four manservants and three other servants arc kept at this place, but I am of opinion that it is scandalous that a minister of tho Gospel should attempt to justify his conduct in keeping all these servants in these times. Our country is at war, but lam afraid this reverend gentleman does not recognise it, but merely recognises the necessity of keeping himself in luxury and ease. I will say no more."