WHITE SLAVERY.
TO 'l'Hi; kditoi;. —1 want to ktww how it is that thor.eh there are trades unions to help and protect working men, and Uuvs to prevent giils and others being worked too loner in factories, that there is no law to stop unfeeling mislrcssi.« from working then- servants for I t and l'J and sometimes even 18 hours a day ? and at real hard work, too, most of tho lime ; for, besides the usual house work in many places, they expect us to do the wood chopping, bout. cleaiiiutr, and other odd jobs to fill our spare time. I know a ynmifj girl who was tho only servant in a wiulthy eentlem >n : s house in this district, in whi* i eislit or ten people lived, and a Rood many visitors coming. Hhe had all the house work to do, besides milking th" cow and making the butter, .X.C. ; there was quite enough work for three servants, but she had to do it nil somehow, and the couseipienee was by night she was worn out and could not sleep ; of course, .-he broke down in health and had to leave, Hhe would, of course, have before, but had engaged herself for three months. Another girl 1 know, only Mi years old, was the only servant. e::cept a jook (who never stayed more than a few weeks) in a huge liou.se belonging to rich people who l;epc a lot of company. She was dreadfully ovet-worked, but her mistress would not let her leave, though she tried to «ut away. OE course, her health u'avu way altogether, and, worse than all, her mind gave wav, and she is now in an asvlom. Now. Mr l-lditor, don't von think something could be put into those factory laws I've heard about that would give the police or somebody power to punish such cruel mistresses as would treat young, friendless girls like thisNo wonder we're called " slaveys," for slavery it very often is, aud more shame to those who oould help us and won't do it, for of course we oan't do much to help ourbelvea. 1 think it's quite time we had votes the samo as the men have, so that wo could vote tor them that would help us.—Yours, &c., Skuvant Gull.
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Waikato Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 2998, 1 October 1891, Page 3
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381WHITE SLAVERY. Waikato Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 2998, 1 October 1891, Page 3
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