THE CINDERELLA OCCUPATION.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 164, 14 July 1938, Page 10

THE CINDERELLA OCCUPATION.

Not low wages, but working conditionsconditions often inseparable from farm life— are xt the root of the seemingly invincible opposition of the young women of to-day to the idea of undertaking domestic work in the country. This appears clear from the report that the Women's Division of the Farmers' Union is meeting with great difficulty in obtaining competent staff for its housekeeper service. That service evokes the admiration of all who are acquainted with it. Reasonable salaries are paid, minimum working conditions are laid down, and there is no lack of employment. Yet the W.D.F.U. is finding it so difficult to maintain an adequate staff that there are suggestions of bringing girls from English orphanages, or from Central Europe. An immigration plan, confined at first to domestic servants, wae outlined ■ recently by the Five Million Club, and it deserves more consideration than it has received. But it should be realised that unless \they were brought out young and trained in New Zealand ways immigrant girls would be of less use than girls born and bred in the Dominion, and Dr. A. G. Strong is probably right in advising the W.D.F.U. that the solution of the problem lies with New Zealand women themselves. The W.D.F.U., the Mothers' Help Society and similar agencies—all voluntary organisations—have pointed the way, but a much more comprehensive organisation must be formed if domestic service is to be rescued from its Cinderella status.