IMMIGRANT MAIDS.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 477, 8 April 1909, Page 3

IMMIGRANT MAIDS.

; ,--THE WELLINGTON MEETING. Ellington ladies are evidently not inclined to urge that the Government should iaiport immigrant maids for domestic service here. The proposal, which emanated from - Christchurch, has been vigorously 'taken up in Canterbury. Dunedin adopted ■ft) with a difference—urging that the Government should assist the maids' immigration, but not give them free passages. Auckland does not seem to have responded yet to tho appeal. Palmerston North held a "meeting,", at which no one was present, and Wellington distinguished itself by sending three women to the meeting called by Mrs. Hislop yesterday afternoon to discuss the proposals.

It is ■ not easy to know why Wellington should prove itself so apathetic, where other towns have been vigorous. Tho domestic servant problem is certainly as acuto here as in any other part of the Dominion. Perhaps it is because we are here so accustomed to seeing ocean liners arrive with scores of immigrant women aboard, and know so well, that few of those, women dream of entering domestic service. Anyway, it is clear that tho immigration scheme dqes ) not commend itself fervidly to the minds of Wellington- women. Mrs. Hislop, who presided, read the correspondence she had received from tho Olmstclmreh committee, dealing with tho question, but it was decided not to do anything in the matter, since there was no oncouragement to proceed, except to leave several of the petition forms at places where they might be signed, and to notify that signatures would be accepted from ariV woman twenty-one years of age. These Potions will-be leff at ench of the newspaper offices, and at the custodian's room ?«♦ ?!. fTS r! S ° that V who regret that thoy did not attend tho meeting yesterday can make up for it to-dav Ihe petition asks for the tree immigration of single women, on tho ground that there has. been an ever-decreasing supply of girls and young women offering for such work; that numbers of women and mothers of the Dominion- are daily called upon to hear burdens almost too heavy to bo bornothat this is a serious menaco to the health of the New Zealand women, likely to cause a further decline in tho birtli-rnto, and to injure tho physique and upbringing of succeeding generations, and that tho problem alrects especially those who are neither wealthy nor well-to-do. Tho petitioners disavow any intention of objecting to tho present standard of wages for domestic workers They point- out that in 1908 thcro were 61,000 more males than females in tho Dominion. They are of opinion that tho free immigration of strong, willing, and able single women of good character, even if without previous experience in domestic service, will at once prove of great benefit to numbers of over-worked mothers, and women of the Dominion, while such a movement, by reason of the girls ultimately marrying and settling in the country, must make for the closnr sp.ttlpJßßiit.

A scries of suggestions for canvassers accompanying these petitions summarise the arguments which they should use in asking for signatures: (1) Wo do not, they say, wish to lower wages, tho high wages being the great attraction. (2) The Government can stop free immigration as soon as .they sco signs of it affecting wages. (3) We hope colonial women will be sent as agents, so that tho girls will have the truth about life, here. (-1) Tho immigrants will be brought out and kept under proper caro until found places, (o) Mother's helps and general servants arc to be tho chief supply.