THE WANDERLUST.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 75, 30 March 1929, Page 4 (Supplement)

THE WANDERLUST.

HOW TO SEE ENGLAND

WORK YOUR WAY.

(By VIOLET ODOM.)

"I should love to take a trip to England," said a girl to me the other day, "but I shall never save enough money for sight-seeing as well as for the fare." There must be many girls similarly placed, who are earning their own living and who could manage their return fare to England, but would find it difficult to save quite enough for all the sight-seeing they would like to do. Sometimes girls ask whether it would be possible to get work in shops or offices. This is not easy to obtain, and they could only hope to get junior posts, which are very poorly paid. Then, having got a post, a girl would be tied to the particular town where her work was. There is, however, one method by which a good deal of sight-seeing can be done very cheaply, and that is by taking a position as a domestic servant. There would be more likelihood of obtaining such a position than of getting any other dnd of work, and it should be possible r or two friends to get work together. It is necessary, however, to remember that English ways are not always the same as New Zealand ones, and a girl must be prepared to adapt herself to the ways of the country. The best way to get work is to study the advertisements in the daily and weekly papers, and to answer those from villages and towns which seem likely to prove good centres for excursions. Among others there will probably be advertisements for "lady cooks," "lady housemaids" and "lady parlourmaids." If she answers an advertisement worded in this way a girl knows that the other members of the domestic staff will be likely to be of the same social class a* herself, and may prove extremely congenial companions. Wonders of London.

A visitor to England will almost certainly want first to see something of London. A friend of mine, who had no experience of domestic work, and who was by no means a good cook, went to a. registry office run for lady servants. She was given two addresses, both in a nice district in the West End of London. She went to see both ladies, and each wished to engage her on the spot, ami did not even require references. A girl may go to a house where no other help is kept. In this case the washing will be sent to a laundry, and a charwoman will probably be engaged once a week to help with the ro«gh work. A less lonely situation may bo found as a lady housemaid or parlourmaid, and there are some interesting openings for workers of this kind. One friend of mine is housemaid :it a women's settlement near Westminster, and has the opportunity of meeting a number of interesting people who come to stay at the settlement. A Colonial will find that her work is much more cut and dried than is usually the case here. She will be told exactly what her duties are, and what times she is free. And this brings me to the important question of how much free time may be' expected, and whether it would be possible to see much in the times allowed. It is an almost universal custom now to allow two hours off duty time every day, usually in the afternoon, And during that time a girl can go out or do anything she likes. She will have at least one half-day a week, possibly two, and also some free time on Sundays. So in a short time she will be able to see a good deal of London. No Board Expenses.

The wages will only be at the rate of £30 to £40 a year—not enough for current expenses and for sight-seeing. But, of course, they will help to pay expenses, and there is no worry over board and lodging. And one must remember that money goes further in England than it does out here. After living in London for a time it may be possible to get a situation in some country town, which seems likely to prove a good centre. ! A girl I knew went as housemaid at a I boys' school in a well-known country town in Surrey. The nine girls comprising the domestic staff were all of the same type, and were a very happy party. The work was most carefully planned, so that it was not heavy, and there was plenty of free time. Each worker was given a time-table, showing clearly when she was off duty. It was always possible to get permission to go out to an entertainment any evening, and liberal free time was given on Sundays. My friend was at the school for three months and during that time explored the country round for miles. One free day she and a friend went by bus to a village much frequented by artists, and noted for its beautiful old church and picturesque thatched cottages. Another day they explored the town itself and went over the guildhall and saw some interesting old almshouses. On another occasion they went to a village noted for a picture gallery containing a very fine collection of G. F. Watts' pictures. On other free days they went for walks through country which is as beautiful as in any part of England, «nd which is full of historical associations. A domestic worker can, of course, give a month's notice and take a holiday at any time. She can then spend a week or two in the Lakes district or in Cornwall, or some other interesting part of England. She will enjoy this much more if she feels that she can afford to be a little extravagant; if she is hoping to get work afterwards she need not look twice at every penny, and wonder whether her savings will last out to the end of her trip.