SERVANT GIRLS' HALFHOLIDAY BILL?

Auckland Star, Volume XXVII, Issue 154, 2 July 1896, Page 2

SERVANT GIRLS' HALFHOLIDAY BILL?

DENOUNCED BY A WOMEN'S

LEAGUE.

(bt telegraph.—parliamentary re

POBTKK.)

Wellington, Wednesday. The Bill introduced by the member for Invercargill to provide a half holiday for female domestic*, came under review at a meeting of the Southern Cross Society (a woman's organisation) yesterday evening, and was very severely bandied by the fair criticH. Lady Stout led off, by moving "That the members of the Southern Cross Society, while approving «f the halfholiday for domestic servant*, consider thab the Bill brought; in by Mr Kelly ia quite unworkable,, and would nob be beneficial for servants, and the majority of eervante do not desire it." in moving this, »ha eaid chat under the proposed law, every girl would have to be turned out of the houeo on the half ■ holiday from three o'clock till ten o'clock, which would mean that those girls who had no home to go to would be compelled to promenade iho streets. They could not come in to tea unless their mistress felt inclined to goti it for them, because the Bill said thab if tbey were employed ab their ordinary work their mistress was liable to a penalty of £5;. In the country, apparently, the poor girls would have to take to the field*. Again, if it should happen thab the mistress was ill in bed ib made no difference; the girl, must go out, and leave her mistress 60 bake care of herself, Or if, on the other hand, the girl happened to be ill herself ib still made no difference, she must leave the house. In the course of debate one lady suggested thab Mr Kelly be asked to mind his own affairs, another that ib would be preferable if this sorb of legislation wero left over until women themselves got into Parliament. Ultimately, the motion was unanimously carried. Lady Sfcoub caused much amusement by reading another resolution, drawing the attention of the member for Invercargill to the necessity for providing a half-holiday for mothers of families wko baTe no servants and who never geb a rest night or day, or by compelling husbands to remain at home and mind house and the children while their wives take an airing. After a good deal of banter this motion was allowed to lapse.