DOMESTIC SERVANTS

Evening Post, Volume CXXI, Issue 106, 6 May 1936, Page 4

DOMESTIC SERVANTS

SOUTH ISLAND UNION

CLAIMS FOR AN AWARD

(Bjr Telegraph—Press Association.)

CHRISTCHURCH, This Day.

Over one hundred domestic servants who met at the Trades Hall last night unanimously decided to form a South Island industrial union of workers. Provisional executive officers were appointed to apply for registration and to draft claims for an award. Mr. J. Roberts, secretary of 'the New Zealand Clothing Trades federation, presided.

"If there are two groups of workers in' New Zealand today who are suffering under long hours and low wages," said Mr. Roberts,- "they are ; farm labourers and domestic servants. Under favourable legislation the chance of improving their lot is at hand." -Mr. Roberts added that an attempt to form a union had failed'in 1907 through the introduction of legislation to prevent domestic workers from approaching the Arbitration Court for an award, on the ground that they were not employed in industry trading for profit. The new Government, however, had promised to amend the legislation and workers would be able to ■gain the award that had been denied 'them for so long.

,;' Mr. R. Brooks, secretary of the Hotel and Restaurant Workers' Union, suggested the formation of a South Island union as the best means of organising the Svorkers. The North island would probably follow the lead and ultimately the two bodies 'could be merged into a national organisation. "During the depression," Mr. .Brooks said, "many domestic servants were forced to put up with terrible conditions. They were paid wages that were described as being better than nothing. Often their rooms were hot fit ior a dog to live in. This was the treatment they received from employers who travelled about the country staying at expensive hotels where the tariff was 25s a day."