THE WANT OF DOMESTIC SERVANTS.

Auckland Star, Volume XXII, Issue 34, 10 February 1891, Page 8

THE WANT OF DOMESTIC SERVANTS.

(To the Editor.)

Sir,—l fail to see how your correspondent, "5.5. R.," in any way further enlightens on this subject, beyond implying that want of kindness on the part of employers is the cause of the dislike to domestic service, and this is practically illustrated by " S.S.R.'s " knowledge of some five - and - twenty domestics from her own district, who keep their situations and givo every satisfaction to their employers ! Well,there is no great evidence of want of kindcess there, at any rate ! The facb that here and there some illiterate mistress does nob know how properly to treat a domestic is no evidence upon which to reflect on a large class of ladies who are themselves parents, and ib is ridiculous when.,we see tho scarcity and the opportunities that girls have of obtaining new situations, if dissatisfied, to attribute tbe dislike to domestic servitude to any such cause, the Bishop of Durham notwithstanding. The assertions I have made that female domestics are scarce, and that such scarcity is caused by cessation of immigration and tbe dislike of our girls to domestic service, has nob been denied, or any reasonable cause shown why we should not resume immigration of so suitable a class of labour, mosb of whom ultimately become tho useful wives of setclers. If "S.S.R." could only get some of her domestic friends to practise what she preaches towards their employers, no doubb bbc employers would only too gladly reciprocate, for one powerful reason, anyway, because, from their scarcity, they cannot ab presenb help themselves I—Yours, etc., Paterfamilias.