EMPIRE MATTERS EVIDENCE BEFORE DOMINIONS' COMMISSION

Evening Post, Volume LXXXV, Issue 5, 28 February 1913, Page 3

EMPIRE MATTERS EVIDENCE BEFORE DOMINIONS' COMMISSION

DOMESTIC SERVANTS WANTED. (BT TEtEOIIAPH— PBBSS ASSOCIATION.) DUNEDIN, 27th February. The Dominions Royal Commission continued its sittings in Dv tied in to-day. Lady M'Lean and Mrs. Lindo Ferguson, appearing to give evidence as to the demand fbr domestic servants, presented a written paper. It ran thus ;— "The need for an increased supply of domestic servants in the Dominion has been very marked for some years, and is at present exceedingly acute. The suggestion that tho shortage in domestic servants was due to greater attraction of factory work does not explain the position, as the factories cAfinot obtain sufficient hands, and the difficulty is that there are not sufficient women in the Dominion to meet the requirements of the community. The results of immigration are to lessen the stress, but the numbers who emigrate are totally inadequate to meet the demand. The short* age of domestic servants is having a serious , effect on the health and wellbeing of .the women of the Dominion, and it is recognised thai it has a re* straining effect on the birth rate. . . . The type of servant most widely useful in the Dominion is the cook-general, but there is a large opening for countrybred girls who would adapt themselves to country life. If it is impossible for i us to get trained servants, it may be j possible to organise a scheme whereby [ untrained, or partly ir&ned, grls, should be fitted for duties here ; if girls can be sent out between the ages of 15 to 19, and can have six months' training in colonial ways, there would be no diflv culty in finding work for them. .This class of girl would probably remain in domestic service for five or six years before marrying, and thus do more to supply the labour market than the importation of a similar number of girls at the age of 25, who perhaps would marry after two years' service. A Bcheme of this sort would involve the estblishment of a central training institution for the Dominion, from which girls would bo drafted out after their novitiate, to various centres. The institution could be made largely self-sup-porting by laundry work. Supervision of girls after leaving, could be delegated to sub'Committeea in tb.e various .centres., If our Government saw its way to give increased facilities for nomination, it is desirable that they should be brought prominently before the notice of settlers. There are throughout the Dominion many Irish and Scotch settlers • who should be able to influence the class .of country-bred girl eminently suited to adapt herself to the needs of the Dominion. Each province— Otago and Southland, Canterbury, Westland, Nel> son, and Mariborough in the South Is* land, and Wellington, Hawkos Bay, New Plymouth, and Auckland in the "North Island could absorb', say, during the year 3000 women workers— soo to each of the, large centres, say, at the rate of 125 every three months." In answer to questions! the witnesses said the wages obtainable in New Zealand would be from 16s to 20s. The Government should more freely advertise the conditions of nominated immigration j the terms might be improved, so as to make New Zealand as attractive as Australia, , Considerable dissatisfaction was expressed with the arrangements on shipboard, in regard 'to the carrying of the girls. It would be better if single girls came out separately, if not on a ship of their own, they should- be kept separate from married Life on board had some effect in unsettling girls foe colonial life. COAL SUPPLY. Professor Park volunteered a statement && to the necessity for reserving coal areas, not only in New Zealand, but also in Australia. This question was of vital importance to the defence of the Empire, as a supply for the Navy, as steam must continue for a time at least to be the source of motive power for men-of-war. The popular idea that coal was abundant in New Zealand was a fallacy; it> was found in many places, but the total amount was small. He had personally examined exery coal field in the Dominion, and estimated that of brown coal- we had 520 million tons, of pitch coal 306 million tons, and of bituminous coals (confined, to Westpprt and Greymouth districts) 254 million tons. The British output last year was 270 million tons. , There was small chance of big discoveries in the future. The amount of available coal should be accurately ascertained, and in each State certain reserva* tions slwuld be made. Our coal was at present being used with prodigal waste. We cannot reproduce coal, and waste was a serious matter, in view of the possible requirements by the Admiralty. Waste in working was inherent to the industry, but waste in New Zealand was enormous, equalling 50 per cent. This could be, to some extent, reduced. Mr. 0,. Joachim, managing director of the Westport Coal Company, submitted a quantity of information as to the working of his company's mines. The output was 620,000 tons per annum, they employed 920 men underground and 250 above, and the average output was S3O tons per annum per man. He thought New Zealand would have to go more and more to Newcastle for coal. There were 167 coal mines in the Dominion, but only 26 of these employed more than 00 men each, and he knew of only four mines that were paying dividends. This was owing to physical conditions and cost of labour. Westrx>rt hewers averaged 14s 6d to 17s per shift. ' > Mr. Loudon read and expounded i remit from tho Chamber of Commerce, advocating the formation of a national reference development bureau. The Chairman remarked, in the course of discussion, that he did not think they could ask the' Government to examine the facts and vouch for the accuracy of company prospectuses. FARM LABOUR. Hugh Michell (secretary of the Oiago Provincial Council of the New Zealand Farmers' Union) said that for years the Farmers' Union nad been trying to cope with the shortage of farm labour, which was becoming more acute each year. He advocated the resumption of the scheme inaugurated by Mr. Sedgwick for bringing out boys from Britain for farm work. This scheme had worked satisfactorily, but the Government would not all6w anything more to be done for twelve months until tho success of the first experiment had been tested. Since that period expired a change of Government ! had taken place, and 'no further lads had been sent from England. The union was now asking for legislation, which 'it was hoped would relieve in some measure the shortage of farm labour. He thought lads should be brought out and trained for farm work. English town boys had proved satisfactory workers on j the land here. j