THE CALL FOR DOMESTICS

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 15, 11 February 1909, Page 4

THE CALL FOR DOMESTICS

Mil T, E. TAYLOII UITOSIiS IMMI- - tiIDEUGUTS ON THE PKOIiLE.M. Some iiLtoresting remarks hi regard to domestic service ami tUe problems connected willi it are made in. a letter addressed by -Mr T. K Taylor, M.l\. to the Hon. G. Eowlds. " .My puriio.se in writing to you is to protest against tlio adoption by the Government of the emigration suggested/' says Mr Taylor :ii the course of hia letter. "The members of the union ought to know that there is just as great a duarth oi' competent domestic workers in Great Britain as there is in this country. The suae cry mav l>e heard throughout the length ami breadth ot' the Old Country as was uttered by the deputation of >hccpowners. I have no hesitation in saying that if a .score of special emigration agents were I sent to the Old Country they -would fail to induce live hundred thoroughly competent domestics to <|iiit Great iiritain for the purpose of taking employment here. The thorough competent domestic ! ,iu the. Old Country is able to command I greater comfort, equal if not greater pri- | vilcgcs and almost, if not quite. as good I a remuneration there as she would obi tain here. I have no doubt that a numi bri' of the inetlicicnt hoiM-workevs could j be induced to try their fortunes in thi* country, but 1 believe that any special ell'ort to induce such a class to come here would be in the nature of a calani- | ity so far a* New Zealand is concerned. The fad i" that the perfectly competent in any walk of life, whether he be a clerk, au artesian, a musician, n professional mail, or a domestic worker, is as well oil' on the average in the Old Country as he or she would be here. I have no coniideuce in the ability oi the British Women's Emigration Association to secure in eohAiowaide numbers ] the class of domestic workers that the homes of New Zealand are calling for. The. fact is that we must solve this problem of domestic workers 011 our own. We must 'elevate employment in the Ihome to a level that will give an eipial standing to those engaged in it to that which, is enjoyed by women who follow the profession of teaching or nursing. The Slate will have to immediately undertake the duty of establishing in connection with the schools and colleges of this country opportunities of thorough training in every branch of domestic work. Women who qualify under these conditions will be duly certificated, and will look with much pride upon their qualifications to assist in the maintenance of home life, as the woman who now in the capacity of a. certificated nurse looks upon her ability to relieve human suffering. The creation of thoroughly efficient workers along these lines would immediately raise the status of the workers, and their position in the home life would have to be one suited to their recognised ability.