THE CRISIS IN THE KITCHEN.

Evening Post, Volume LXVIII, Issue 49, 26 August 1904, Page 6

THE CRISIS IN THE KITCHEN.

WHY SERVANTS ARE SCARCE IN WELLINGTON. HOPEFUL OUTLOOK FOR THE .FUTURE. Much ha» been written about tho sorsorvant famine, arid tho consequent crisis in the kitchen, but housewives are still peeking for a remedy, and wondering why they oonuot get' a good "domestic," when girls are as plentiful as blackberries. An a-utboritativo opinion on the question — and orio of especial local intercut — in that of Mrs. Staveloy, who is in charge of the Female Branch of tho local Labour Bureau. "Few WeHington girls go to service," eh© says in her annual report to the Labour JEfopartnienb. This Apparently is not an kh'oeyncracy of tho Wellington girl, because bhe 386 girls and women assisted by the local bureau included many from oSier parts of the colony. Tho country employers And it hard to get help of any kind, and they are no anxious to get scrvante that they wiH willingly t«ke elderly women and women with a child,' or even two children, and pay a fair wage as well. It is tho luro of the factory and the tea-room that is responsible for the housewife's dilemma. In hotels tho wages given are high, and the privileges many. "Factories and laundrves employ so many of our working-girls," continues tho report,, "that few are left to take domestic work. The reason given by the girls who •have formerly been in domestic servico and sinco taken <o factory work is the dullnew and monotony of housework. Some maids assort that with some mist.resses jt is useless to get one's work dono quickly and well, as other task* are found for them to do, which they find very discouraging. I buink there are few employers to bo found nowadays who do not appreciate good servants, and do all in their power to make them ms comfortable as possible and to retain their services." The outfook, however, is not all gloomy. Speaking from observation, Mrs. Staveley thinks \that a much better understanding is gruduaHy arising between mistress and maid, founded on mutual respect and usefulness to each other, and on the moro solid basin of a business transaction — of being well paid for work well done, and leaving all person*! feelings aside. Sho is sure the trifling differences that some-, times occur between mistress and mnkl will soon bo a thing of tiie past, the reason being that domestic work will bo considered on© of tho most essential acquirements of women, no matter to what class in society they may belong.

The casts concerning the aHoged lottery devised by W. Dhnock and Co., Limited, who offered a £5 prizo to the person guessing the correct or nearost weigiit of the .total numb«r of pigs received at their tactory during tho week ending 28th May, 1904, wore decided by Dr. A. M'Arthur, S.M., this morning. His Worship said that as far as ho could read tho authorities quoted, they seemed unanimous in deciding that in order to show that a competition woo a lottery, ono had to establish without doubt that tho result depended wholly and solely upon chance. Some element of chance did enter into, the result of this particular lottery, but to, /h)' small a degree that he who trusted to chance only, would be hopele«s]y oat of it. Tho informations would be ' dismissed, but without* costs. Mr. Myers prosecuted, for tho police, and Mr. Beero appeared for Dimock and Co. At their mart, Willis-street, to-morrow, at noon, Messrs. Lovion, Shalloraw and Co. wiH sell a gig and harness, also silverware, cutlery, mathematical instrument*, eto. On Monday next, at 1.30 p.m., tho firm wHI soil, on the promises, No. 1, Buller-stroot, the contents of a seven-roojaed-houflOj .without reierye,