THE SERVANT QUESTION.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXI, Issue 209, 3 September 1900, Page 2

THE SERVANT QUESTION.

To the Editor.)

Sir,-As "Slavey" thought that "Mistress' " ideas re examinations were "brilliant," a number of leading servants from Parnell, Ponsonby and Remuera suggested that an institution be at once formed, to be ruled-by a Board of Examiners composed of themselves, whose duty should be to examine candidates for service. Shortly afterwards the institution was formed, and last Friday night an examination was held in one of the suburban halls, to which I gained admittance by pretending to be one of their number. I now subjoin the examination of a domestic.

Q. "What is your views?" manager's family." Q. "How would you set about brushing a coat?"—A. "I'd begin by searching the pockets." (Grunts of approval from the examining body.) Q. "What ought you to mind?"—A. "My own business."

'—A."A bank

Q. "What ought you not to mind?"—A. "Anybody else's business." Q. "Suppose you was told to nurse the baby?"—A. "I should say it was the nurse's place." Q. "If the cook was took ill suddenly, would you consent to look after the dinner?"—A. "No; by no means."

Q. "What would you expect?"—A. "Not less than £30 a year wages." (Salary, la/Jy; salary, if you please.) "I beg your parding; salary."

Q. "What else?"—A. "Three dresses a year, four meals a day, and a boy to do all the dirty work." \ This candidate passed at once ; and was complimented by the examiners on her proficiency. Others were not so fortunate. One was asked: "Suppose in a family where f. boy was kept, you were called upon, on a pinch, to clean a pair of boots, what would you do?" She replied, "Clean them," and was "plucked " Immediately. At the conclusion of the examination tho whole party regaled themselves upon tea and biscuits, provided by the examination fees, which came to 6d a head.—l am, etc.,

HOOP-LA,

(To the Editor.)

Sir.—l have read with much interest the letters of mistresses and maids. It seems to me that the foundation of the difference of opinion between mistresses and maids is, at least in part, the same on both sides, namely, a contempt for the manual labour of household duties. I also think that our system of education has much to answer for in helping along this condition of things. Every child is compelled to attend school. Surely when the education of a child is thus taken out of the hands of its parents that education should bo such as to fit it at least to some slight extent to earn its living. But it seems to me that the result is a contempt for all manual labour and an in-

capacity for anything else. The State education does not go far enough, or it goes too far, and better education is required to show a child how ignorant it is; on the other hand, the education given goes too far when it leaves the pupil with the Idea that, having passed Standard VI.; there is nothing left to learn! This is the idea generally accepted by pupils and parents. This state of mind would not bo so bad if it only concerned boyS, for these soon get the idea of their own Importance cast out in the various occupations which they must pursue in order to make a 'living. But with girls, in the majority of cas.... it is not so, and particularly is this the case with regard to girls who seek to earn their living by domestic service, one of the forms of so-called unskilled labour. Now, domestic work is not unskilled labour, and the belief that it is is where the mistake is made by the girls, by tho Education Boards, and in many cases by tho mistress. It seems to me that the education of girls is very nearly useless if it does not primarily teach them to take care of their homes, their husbands and their children! For, after all, what are they in the world for?, Surely some education and training are necessary if they are to fulfil their destiny. Ye men, who in your Parllamentary "koreroes" allot so many and so large sums of money to such wise uses, has it never occurred to you that some might be devoted to improving the knowledge of your daughter in housekeeping and the care of children. Believe me (a woman of fair intelligence.and experience) such knowledge is not intuitive any more than is the knowledge required to fit a man for the battle of life. I would compel every girl to pass an examination in household duties and the care of children; and this is the only examination for girls that I should make compulsory. I presume that it is supposed that girls get all the necessary information in these matters In their homes. This is not the case, one of the reasons being tha.t they are compelled to go to school till they have passed a certain standard, and when they have succeeded in accomplifllilng this they go to a registry office and offer their' services in household duties! Poor mistress! Poor maid!! Poor husband!!!—l am, etc., 8.A., N.Z. UNIVERSITY AND A MISTRESS.

(To the Editor.)

Sir,—Permit me space In your paper to say a few words on the "Servant Question." I have been both servant and mistress. In my time I have travelled a great deal. I have spent some six. years in Auckland, and I must say that I have only lived in two families that I really felt proud to serve. There are many ladies who do their best to be good mistresses, but I am afraid it is a very poor best. Speaking for myself, I must say I used to chafe at service; but to live with such ladies as the two that I lived with in Melbourne and Sydney, I feel sure that no one could think, service beneath them. If there were only a few more such there would not be so much slavery and drudgery as there is at present.—l am, etc., MOTHER.

(To the Editor.)

Sir,—l have followed with interest the correspondence in your paper re the "Servant Question." I notice "An English Girl" says if she had the address of "Mistress" she would forward her a dictionary. And I, sir, would like to send her a Bible asking her to kindly state chapter and verse for her reference "concerning that which the Bible declares to be next to Godliness." Having done so, "Mistress" may then venture to speak of educating "the ignorant wench from the country."—l am, etc.,

COLONIAL COUNTRY GIRL. Waihi, August 31.

(To the Editor.)

Sir,—l have read with great interest all the letters from the different correspondents, and, like our friend, "An English Girl," think that "Mistress" is the Ignorant one to tevjn us girls "wenches." "Mistress" seems to be very much hurt at being called a "nigger-driver.' 'and yet she thought it quite right to call us "wenches" in the way she did; and "Mistress" also said there was a chance for us to improve, and so there is for her. "Mistress," if you will just sign your name to your next letter you will get great consideration from your friend "An English Girl." I have not had much experience to state, as I have only had two situations, and my employers have not been quite as bad as some. I have never had the cupboards locked on me, but still a half-holiday would make service much more bearable. I have a day a month, and when this day comes I have to arise very early and never have time to sit down to breakfast if I want to get away by ten. o'clock. On one occasion I called for my sister, who had just taken a situation, and she was flying around like a cat on hot bricks and managed to finish at a quarter to eleven. Her mistress said: "I never heard of such a thing; my girls never finished until halfpast eleven." So you see, our day is a little more than an hour- looger tfcftg, a

factory girl's half-holiday. Most girls seem in favour of the weekly halfholiday. If the law will not compel the mistresses to give it, why not strike, or only take places where we can get the half-holiday?—l am, etc., FOR STRIKE.

(To the Editor.)

. Sir,—Now that the servant question is under discussion, kindly allow me to give my experience. In the first place I would like to say that the mistresses are not always to blame. There are some nice places, but they are the exception rather than the rule. I have been in some good places, then again I have been where I have been half starved, where eatables have been locked up, and you had to give an account of every little thing. Very often the children took something and you wore blamed. Girls will not stay in a place where everything is locked up, and they are made to feel that they cannot be trusted. Then there are our long hours and small pay. I think, Sir, that if a girl got off at night after she had finished her work and was allowed every Sunday, say from about eleven a.m., all this bother would be done away with. Surely families could manage for one day alone. Until something is done to alter things, I fear the servant and mistress will always be at war. A servant is made to feel that to be a servant itv-degrading. I think if we were to start a "servants' union" and go out under certain sconditions we might then get our rights. Mistresses, treat your maids in the manner God intended that all human beings should be treated, and I do not hesitate to say that in the future Mary Jane will be as necessary to you as one of your own family.—l am, etc.. SERVANTS RIGHTS. Onehunga.

(To the Editor.)

■ Sir.—"Madam's" statements prove there is truth in the English Girl's assertion, that "some unstresses have risen from very small beginnings." Unfortunately there are too many of her class. They have risen from mere nothing, yet treat their maids worse than dog*.:. In this is to be found the cause of the whole trouble. Tf we had a few more real ladies in Auckland to treat their mnlds with humane kindness, there would be plenty of good girls to be found willing to seek domestic service in preference to factories. I myself have lived in several English families where a staff of servants was kept, and I always found girls to treat their mistresses with civility and respect. I cannot believe that "Madam" has risen from a respectable servant or she would not write in the terms she does in her letters. Did "Madam" when a servant copy her mistress' dress by wearing gaudy feathers and paste buckles, and is she still doing so to appear as one of the tipper ten? I should think that is just her style. I pity poor Mary Jane who has to work for her. Half holidays would be out of the question at her house. The law should compel such i_ "Madam" and "Mistress' to give .a half day a week, and. to work their girls reasonable hours. As for keeping the Fourth Commandment, it is now a case of "six days shalt thou labour, and the seventh turn out all the cupboards, and do all the odd jobs you have not had time to do during the week, and cook a hot supper for half past nine."—l am, etc., BRIDGET.