THE DOMESTIC PROBLEM.

Auckland Star, Volume XLII, Issue 79, 3 April 1911, Page 6

THE DOMESTIC PROBLEM.

(To the Editor.) Sir,—l have read the letter in the "Star" by "M.R.," concerning the domestic problem, and I agree with everything that is Mid. I think if there were more mistresses like "M.R." there would not be the dearth of domestics. Speaking froia my own experience as a domestic servant, I have often thought it is a pity we are human flesh and blood at all, and I think it is time the domestic servants had stated hours, wages, etc., the same as other "workers. I do not wonder at young girls preferring the factory -when they hear what is required of the domeatic servant. If I could hear of anyone who would treat mc as your correspondent names I ehould 'be pleased and willing to serve them to the best of my ability.—l am, etc, DOMESTIC.

(To the Editor.) Sir,—l have read in your Issue of the 30th ult. a letter on the domestic problem, eigned "M.R.," which gave mc a decided mental rest after all the entaglements and bombardments issued •by the unsympathetic side. "M.R." touches the crux of the whole question, viz., alter the conditions! If there is one thing of more value to a maid after good, plain food it is a jood bed, where her tired limbe may get the needful rest. But -what do we find?—A room with broken-up and patched linoleum; a bed so rickety in many houses, wherein to turn would be almost tantamount to landing on the floor; a onceenamelled washing-baein that it useless to wash-up in, all the enamel having disappeared; a washstand more often than not propped up; a cracked jug that one is frightened to handle; old, wornout blankets; a nondescript of a counerpane; and one pillow that gives hardly any elevation above tlie flax mittress, and generally a well-pressed one at that. And this is parlour and bedroom in one in houses where the draw-ing-room is cushioned in silks and satins! No need to tell the maid she ' ps nob equal to auch a Christian mis-

trees; she can see it" for herself; aai in heartless despair and "disgust gu moves out pi such a lowering atmog? phere. And it is not every maid that get 3 good, plain food, but it woulj simply weary your readers, and gite them indigestion for a month to em*. merate the .-inhuman conditions ■ under which the large majority of maids earn; out their duties in these Christi«i households!—l am, etc., . - A EMILY NICOL. -