THE SERVANT PROBLEM

Wairarapa Times-Age, 8 December 1939, Page 8

THE SERVANT PROBLEM

POSITION REVERSED. Mistresses, for the first time in ten years, are today able to pick and choose their maids. Because of the war, girls are forced to offer their services for whatever wages the mistresses care to give, states a writer in the London "Daily Mail.” "The old servant problem is completely reversed.” said Miss B. Beyzant. secretary of the National Union of Domestic Workers. "The supply of workers far exceeds the demand. Housewives everywhere are economising at the expense of their maids. Often when a family was evacuated to, the country the maid was sacked without warning. Many girls suffered hardship because they did not receive even a week's wages in lieu of notice. Nor were they given anything for board or lodging until they found a new job. We have approached the mistresses and got compensation for some of our members.”

Fully-trained cook-generals who before the war were earning from 20s to 30s a week are now offering to take positions at 12s 6d and 15s a week. Experienced cooks and parlour-maids are doing the same. One North London housewife said that for the past few years she has had her name on the books of three registry offices and has spent pounds on advertisements vainly trying to find a cook-general. "In the first week of the war," she added. "I had a succession of girls applying for the job. One offered to work just for her board and lodging."

Nearly 8000 women refugees from Nazi oppression who were working in Britain as domestic servants have been thrown out of employment. These refugee servants include women doctors, nurses, scientists, and research students who had jobs as cooks-general or kitchen-maids. More than 3000 were in London, the rest in the provinces. Most of these girls and women will appear before the enemy alien tribunals and pending lhe investigation of their cases. they are receiving allowances from refugee aid societies.