CORONATION GIFT.

Evening Post, Volume LXXXI, Issue 30, 6 February 1911, Page 3

CORONATION GIFT.

TO THE EDITOE. , . Si r> _With reference to tho admirable proposal that the Maries of tho Empire ! should contribute towards a gift to be offerod to Her Majesty Quean Mary on tho occasion of tho Coronation, may I suggest that it seems manifestly unjust to the many millions of British women who do not bear that me st beautiful name that they should bo further penalised therefor in being excluded from .participating in offering this gift to our Queen and Empress? Knowing the heartfelt sympathy of Her Majesty in all cases of distress a-nd unhappiness, I feel confident that no form of gift would be more conformable with the Queen's practical oharity than a fund to assist in the migration of as many girls as possible from the ghastly conditions at Home to the freer life, better prospects, and greater happiness to be found in the colonies, especially in New Zealand. Terls of thousands of girls upwards of sixteen years old aro willing and anxious to migrate within the Empire, but only the means aro lacking. \t present they are frequently compelled by force of circumstances to seek an existence (it cannot bo called "a living") in underpaid and overworked domestic service, in factories, and as waitresses. Tho classes from which they could be drawn include^— (l) Girls from orphanages and other institutions where the death or poverty of their parents have compelled them to seek sanctuary. Here they aro thoroughly trained ana disciplined until tha age of 16, when they go forth again to fight tho battle of life. Needlework, cooking, laundry, and housework are their accomplishments. Energy, health, activity, and thoroughness are the keynotos of their training. (2) Girls who have nover had to leave their homes, and have done tho housework for their mothers and other relations. They excel tho former class in initiative, and their previous experience- has more accustomed them to a lough life and so engendered endurance of hardships. (3) The girls who, in order to do what in them lies to swell the family purse, go into factories when they leave school, but continue to attend classes in housewifery, oookery, laundry, and needlework in I evening continuation schools. (4) Thoss I who go into domestic service afc Home, but would gladly avail themselves of an opportunity of removing to the colonies, whore tho pay, privileges, and prospects aro moro than twice as good. (5) Those v/ho, as waitresses in tea shops, havo to bo content to labour ten hours a day or longer for 10s a week. Out of this they have to provide their tram or railway fares from homo, their boots and clothing, and their laundry, and when the trado gets slack they may bo dismissed until tho seasonal recovery of tho business. In tho country districts adequate supervision of the girls and their interests' is very difficult to provide, and it is felt that lads such as those I brought, out last week should bo employed on farms for house and farm work. All of them aro good domestic workers, having been ac- [ customed thereto from their infant days, and when their entire sorvices aro required outdoors they can get their iisters and cousins out to them, md can afford them all tho protection .needed. The migration of young people, rather , than adults, is steadily gaining favour in public opinion. If popple from ono district afc llonio are settled round ono centre here it will greatly conduce to thoir success and happiness. Tho further questions of supervision on , tho voyage, apprenticeship, repayment t of fares, all require to be thrashed out; . but at present it is useless to proceed fur- , thor until money is shown to bo forthcoming for their transfer. If in uny way I I can assist the matrons of New Zealand , in giving somo of our girls such a chanco ' I shall be happy to do i>o. — I am, etc., ; THOS. E. SEDGWICK. I '-Thornleigh," Boulcott-atreet, i .Wellington, 3rd February.