THE MISSING MAIDS.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 504, 11 May 1909, Page 3

THE MISSING MAIDS.

WOMEN'S EMPLOYMENT BUREAUX. 'MONTHLY REPORTS. .Ono'advantago derived from tho ;ostablishmenc of tho Government Women's Employment Btireaitx, m the ■ four oontros, is the classified information;; supplied ■ month by month, which' makes: it possible to see at a ' glanco what is the. real position of tho domestic worker question in New Zealand. ; Tllero has always becu talk of tho scarcity' of labour, and complaints that girls would not go (V tho country districts, but '■ one could only ..guess vaguely, v at'-'the.-eitent .of, ; ■ tho trouble. . Witji the.report of the four •.. ■: bureaux' before one,' it is possible 'to gauge . the' matter very accurately/' andtbings cer'J - tainiy look very- black for tho home-maker, • who must have help. Generally speaking, ' the work referred to. is .domestic, and .the :. ligures show, that,; in tlio four towns,: applications for help were received from 599, say ; i - 600,. persons,' and / that 328 applied.. for em-., pioymeiit:' V - -'• ' . ...\ The report of- the Wellington Women's Employment.' Blireau shows that-during tho . 'mouth ■77 women have, been assisted '.to., em- ; ployment. The-steamers.'Ruapehu' and Arawo .woro met, and information; , and: advico given to immigrants. A few girls from these vessels'found their way to the office- this . month, and they : wero suited immediately. ■ ; The failuro on the part of both employers . and servants to. notify tho ofE<x> when suited elsewhere' continues, and causes considerable in convenience and confusion. It should also - ■ bo understood by employersthat vtheir applications -.lapse at the end of. each month unless-tho Department is ■ notified to .renew, them. ■In,Auckland;during the month 186 appli- >: cations,-for domostic assistants wero- re- : ceived, and 90 women applied -for work. • These figures-show how-'Beverejthe prevailing • dearth of.dopestics .is.'■'■>■■■ v In Uhristchufch 80 persons applied for employment, and -180 applied: for help. Tho demand'eannflt possibly, bo met. Tho number .required is'simply not available. The domestics assisted are of a very good class. Thoro are vacancies for. .costume-makers, ■ ' hat and cap-makers, etc. .-■■■■ '.i Onnedin reports . that" very satisfactory : business has been'transacted/during the'period ending April 20. Applications wero roV.. . ceived .from. 115 "employers,- representing . 127 V"'. '.positionsvacant, as . per detailed list below, r.;;' Assistants registered ' their names, . . and • sixty T two havo .J)ien placed in employment®"Tho: request for " situations i in : , : public 1 '!■ placed .andinstitutions has beon very, great ! .. during', the ; month, notwithstanding .the good wages-and liberal outings oifered by privat-e . ; IE is'almost impossible to §et : 'girls'' to accept ; places out of town, despite . the favourable; inducements ■: : offered. Tho scarcity of generals is still keenly ,felt r - espe'cially in tho country districts. '