THE SERVANT PROBLEM.

Taranaki Daily News, 4 January 1918, Page 6

THE SERVANT PROBLEM.

Ay ENGLISH PAPER'S SUGGESTIONS The ''servant of the future" is discussed in (he Leader, and tlie suggestion is made that tin- whole question needs reorganising. First of ail, the word ''servant" must go: it has an ugly souiui, and in the mouth o: r ov people Is an ollence. Training in ■- ,>:is arc most nccc-s«ary, and sho>'! " • -r.-Mislied in England and in Hi l , v'-in.r. It is acknowledged that tug .... ,:./.ai-<\ trainins:. picked up by it a .n "rrinn- houses in the course of their wanderings as doniCM.ii: helptii, is u-ry iiiiMiiifiiicion, and people pay fur iar wore than they get, in every sense of the word. Tlie remedy- is, of course, a proper 3chool of domesticity, where the work can be arranged on modern lines and well taught. "A standard uniform," says the writer, "is an essential part of tlie scheme-—an attractive garb resembling the nurse's, which, like that again, would indicate a certain proficiency and :-ommand a certain respect. With that must go better pay, fixed hours, so much time 'off' every afternoon, and a set of rules which shall he- binding on every employer. In the Dominions women of superior education equipped on these lines for domestic service would be sure of an enthusiastic welcome. Not only that, but. lliev would also fie assured a good time. In these young countries, where it has always been the custom for the daughters of tlie-house to take a large part in ' tlie conduct of its affairs, the properly equipped domestic 'help' would share the family's status and have her recognised part in its social life. Already the experiment has been tried with success in t.lie household of one Australian woman whom I know. All her 'helps'' arc young women of good birth and education, whose duties are so arranged that any ! girl who has to work a little later on, any particular night is given a whole afternoon 'off' by way of recompense. Tlie only mistake my friend made was in the initial stages of her experiment, when she insisted that each girl in turn should spend an evening among tflie dinner giiests as one of them. That bored the girls to distraction. They preferred to spend their long free evenings in their own waj—in going to tlie theatre, among their intimate friends, or by themselves with music and books in their private' sitting-room; and a rearrangement was made accordingly.'-'