H.—ll

44

Employees assisted.

In several cases the same worker was assisted more than once. I have, &c, A. Way, The Secretary of Labour, Wellington. Officer in Charge.

DUNEDIN. Sir, — Department of Labour (Women's Branch), Dunedin, 22nd April, 1913. I have the honour to report on the business done for the year ended 31st March, 1913. During the period under review 1,372 applications have been registered—viz., 1,057 from employers and 315 from workers, of whom 272 were placed in employment. Of the latter number 35 were found employment on more than one occasion. The difficulty regarding the great dearth of domestic assistants has continued, and it is evidently a growing one, especially in the South Island, as most of the immigrant vessels arrive in the north. During the past year two overseas vessels which arrived here have been met, when advice was tendered and every assistance, including employment, offered to the new arrivals. Expressions of keen disappointment were manifest from would-be employers when it was found that not one domestic assistant was procurable from either of the boats. The growing distaste for domestic service can scarcely be questioned, and the solution of some remedy whereby such work would be made more congenial is urgently needed. Whilst conditions as to wages and outings have been greatly improved,, the long hours exacted in some cases is the bone of contention. If shorter hours of work were arranged for and payment made for extra hours worked as in other kinds of employment, which would be equitable to both employer and servant, I think that more domestic workers would be offering. The fact of being on the same footing as to hours and other conditions as their sister-workers engaged in other avenues of employment would encourage and attract girls to follow this calling, as well as tend to raise the status of the domestic worker. Something, however, may be said regarding efficiency, for while there are maids who take an interest in their work and delight in doing it well, there are, unfortunately, those who are incompetent and careless; consequently the latter class are tolerated only under extreme circumstances, and have to change about from place to place. The following is a classified summary of the applications received and the vacancies filled for the year : —

From. Occupation. Married. Single. Total. Noith South I land. Island. Commonwealth. Great Britain. Domestios Cooks and cook-generals Housemaids and house-parlour maids Housekeepers Girls to assist Waitresses Lady-helps Married couples Kitchen and pantry maids ... Charwomen Nurses ... Laundresses Machinists Governess Seamstress Shop-assistant Barmaid ... i 11 2 1 20 3 4 115 81 65 20 27 24 34 15 3 18 4 2 1 1 1 1 8 8 9 2 1 4 8 2 84 52 34 12 26 15 26 6 13 7 10 1 6 4 4 1 i l 21 28 18 7 1 7 5 6 2 119 92 65 22 27 24 35 20 18 7 18 5 2 1 1 1 1 i 1 1 1 7 3 1 1 1 1 1 Totals ... 46 412 45 287 17 109 458