The Daily News WEDNESDAY, MARCH 31. DRUDGES OR DAUGHTERS?

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 56, 31 March 1909, Page 2

The Daily News WEDNESDAY, MARCH 31. DRUDGES OR DAUGHTERS?

The agitation Lo secure the importa-l tio7i of domestic helps into New Zealand has spread from north to south. Several months ago the ladies of the East Coast of the North Island propounded the theory that it was the State's duty to put a girl into every kitchen, and aow, in l'hristchureh } a committee to promote the immigration of .suitable domestic workers'' has resolved, it possible, to have effect given to the idea. There is, it must be admitted, a shortage of females in this country. The population estimate lor 1907, exclusive of .Maoris anil other Pacific Islanders now attached to New Zealand, was 41)2,04!) males and 43ti f ß&> females, It is not likely that during the period which has intervened the proportion of females to males litis been materially affected by natural increase and arrivals from abroad, lint, even with such a disparity in the balance of tile sexes, there ought to be a sufficiency of domestic servants for those who can afford to keep them, remarks the Oamaru Mail. The reason why domestic helps am at a premium is that, whilst, in numerous instances, mistresses expect maids to help them they will not help the maids. Vou cannot buy a girl body and soul for a few shillings a week in addition to food and shelter. Ihulding femininity craves for something more than a mere livelihood and a night off occasionally. They want sympathy, and those of them who arc not utterly worthless are all the better for it whou it is judiciously bestowed. New Zealand girls would not be worthy of their country if they were not independent enough to resent anything in the nature of neglect or indignity. It would be well to remember that the housemaid of to-day might be the mistress of to-morrow, and that it is the duty of every true woman who has charge of girls in her home to behave to them in such a way as to set an example of humaneness which will be reflected in their after lives. Tt is in the homes of the well-to-do that girls who have been denied that training which develops the graces are taught how to demean themselves through life. We agree with our contemporary in tne j view that if there is nothing but void ' contempt in those homes—if girls are | treated with less consideration than pet | dogs—it is not at all strange that girls go to factories where they can, at least, | be independent of those amenities withI out which a house is not a home. The | fact that there is rubbish in the ranks i of the housemaid is no excuse fo-; treat- ! ing the class in a manner unworthy of a "woman who has had advantages. Girls tare largely what they are made by their environments, and the mistress who is tortured with uniuaidcnly naughtiness should, remembering that the offender's opportunities have been few, he as generous as possible under the circumstances, and seek to compensate by counsel and firm, respectful, and considerate conduct for what has been lacking.

FOOTBALL. With the first blast of the winter we turn from thoughts yi cricket and tennis to golf and football. Football is a manly sport, and one which, properly directed, should havu the eil'eet of improving our manhood by its beneficial influence upon the physique, discipline, and self-control of ils votaries. AH sport should have an ennobling tendency, and organised rsport might well be ex- , pected to inculcate in the club member of to-day a pride in hi* own particular club, a love for it, that will enable him to make some small sacrilice and submit to .some inconvenience, perhaps self-de-nial, that his club and club-mates may attain the height of a healthy ambition ami rivalry. It is such spoil that the public loves to support. New Zealand had la*t season several types of footballer*. I'irslly, there was the amateur, who played the game for tin- game'.-, kike, and paid for his f(iu; secondly, the so-called amateur who played the game and depended upou the dub to pay all his travelling expenses, and, possibly, procure for him a complete outfit j thirdly, the so-called amateur who, in additiuu to his travelling expenses, was paid "on the quh't" for lost time. Now we. have the straightout professional, also, who says that to : play football and take all its risks for I the sake of amusing the public, and : without recompense to the player, is a | mull's game; and, arguing upon that basis, has a 4, cut' J in the gate-money, : makes no secret of the fact that his ' travelling expenses are paid for him, or that lie is paid for his lost time. There is, at any rate, 110 hypocrisy about the professional. It has been urged that the senii-prohs>ional element of "amateur 4 ' football ha* been assimilated by the Northern Union League, but it is 1 hardly fair to class the whole of the devotee* of the new gamu under that •headiitg. Jt is questionable, too, whether tho pseudo-amateur has ceased to exist in the teams playing under the Kugby I'nions. Those who have been watching the balance-sheets of clubs this year cannot fail to have -noticed the very small amount collected in members' subscriptions—a wholesale violation of the rule which wakes only financial members eligible for cup matches. One club received membership fees from 31 i members, and yet it had four fifteens in the cup fixtures! This year, wc under* ■ stand, rlubs arc to be notified that the I rule in this connection will be strictly

enforced. Clubs have also, in many causes, determined to pay no senior travelling expenses. It is to be hoped this admirable rule will be enforced.