CANNOT BE MET

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 364, 27 October 1932, Page 2

CANNOT BE MET

DEMAND FOR "HELP" CGN^TANT REQUESTS FOR TRAINED DOMESTIC WORKERS. SEASONAL INQUIRY. Whether it is owing to a return of better times or whether. the lower wages now being accepted are inducing employers to obtain the services of girls in their homes is a moot point. The faet remams, however, that there is a constant and imperative demand for trained domestic workers. Arid this demand cannot be met, says a Christchurch paper. The same cry goes up from the various eniployment agencies and centres in the city. "There are positions waiting, We want trained girls!" they say. Part of this demand may be seasonal. The Home Service Association, which supplies much help for the country, is every day receiving applications for girls who can cook for the men employpd in the worlc on station and farm. As much as 30s a week is offered for these helpers, but often the girls are not forthcoming. The fact is that very few girls really are trained," said Mrs. H. C. Hewland, secretary of the association. "A year or two ago only one girl in a 1000 thought of taking up domestic worlc as a means of livelihood. The consequence is that, now there is the worlc offering, there are really very few competent to undertake it." Buring the past weelc girls from the Home Service Association have been placecl at Coalgate, Lake Colelidge, Waipara, even as far afield as the Chatham Islands.- As the reporter entered the room one worlcer was just leaving for a 30s a weelc job at Matunau. "It is not only the country that is calling out for help, though," said Mrs. Hewland. "There are positions offering in the town too. Most of the employers offer from 15s to 25s a weelc."

Last Thursday Mrs. Hewland placed 12 girls in a few hours. All these leceived from 12s 6d to £1 a weelc. Of the 30 girls now training at the new Women' s Unemployment Centre, 12 have positions waiting for them when they finish their apprenticeship. The majority of these girls are those who have, in times past, been employed in other worlc — shop, office or factory. There will be 110 difficulty in finding worlc for them when their training is over. "There is room for trained workers," said Miss M. Trent, who in the first place conceived tho scheme. "We have a constant demand for their services. Do not believe it when . you hear that people try to beat down their wages. From 15s to £1 is usually offered." The same story was tolcl by the Y.W.C.A. ' Plenty of demand for trained workers and few capable," was the verdict of Miss E. Batt. "More training in the worlc of a home is needed." Aslced whether the cookery and domestic training of the schools did , not help, one authority stated that it did not go far enough. "The girls learn to coolc a few things nicely, but that is all. Additional training in the work of a home is needed." Asked whether the . cookery and domestic training of the schools did not help, one authority stated that it did no go far enough. "The girls iearn to cook a few things nicely, but ihat is all. Additional training is ne:essary." One and all agreed that the fact ;hat more reasonable wages were beng asked was inducing housewives ;o employ domestic help. 'But they von't talce young girls," was the cry >f one authority. "If "only they would ;rain young girls the situation would )e easier. But they won't!"