SHORTAGE OF DOMESTIC WORKERS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 73, 28 March 1939, Page 14

SHORTAGE OF DOMESTIC WORKERS.

National Council Suggests Immigration. 1 The question of the shortage of domestic workers has been exercising the minds of various bodies of women for some time, and it came up again at the monthly meeting of the National Council of Women last night. The president, Miss G. M. Hemus, presided. A remit from the Home Service Association stated that in view of the extreme shortage of domestic help in Xew Zealand the Government should be urged to insist on a certain percentage of trained domestic help in any scheme of immigration that might come under review. One from the I'nion of Jewish Women suggested that in the choosing of immigrant girls the case of Jewish refugees trained in domestic work should be considered. From these two remits the discussion arose. Mrs. J. T. F. Mitchell, in speaking on behalf of the Home "ervice Association, said that her organisation (which started in 1930) had never been able to Jill all the many calls for domestic help. The (iovernment had, at present, no general scheme of immigration under consideration and her organisation thought that strong representation should be made to the Government to assist girls to come to the Dominion and so help relieve the shortage of domestic workers. It was particularly pointed out by speakers supporting the Union of Jewish Women* remit that in the case of Jewish refugees no assisted passage was required. Money bad been collected by Jewish people to pay fares from countries of persecution to any country where positions could l>e obtained. The Union of Jewish Women would be responsible for the type of girl that would come to New Zealand if permits were given. Lowering of Standard. It was stressed by various speakers that foreign girls, ignorant of Dominion condition* and anxious to get work might lower the standard of domestic work from the wage point of view and living conditions. The point was a serious one which must be kept in view. A Maori menilier of the council said that little opportunity was given in New Zealand for the training of colonial girls in domestic work. She considered there was a need for raising the present status of domestic work hero. To study various points a sub-com-mittee, was set up to report findings at the next council meeting. The committee comprised Mrs. J. T. F. Mitchell, Mrs. F. K. Armitage. Twrs. K. I. A. Macdonald. Mrs. M. J. Babbington, Mrs. W. T. Anderton, Mrs. F. Nichol, Mrs. Margaret Wynne, Miss Cole and Miss Matndonald. A remit from Wellington asking that the section of the Divorce Act under which divorce was granted on grounds of separation for three years should be either repealed or the time extended to five years on the ground that it had proved inimical to the welfare of married women and family life generally was brought forward. It was unanimously voted against. That the Government should Ik? urged to extend the measures dealing with the hygienic handling of foodstuffs, particularly in the case of production of milk for consumption in the homes of the people, was the subject of a remit from Hamilton. This was passed. Another remit, which was passed, asked that the allowances to wives of mental hospital patients and prisoners should be continued until sustenance or wages were available.