MERELY MARY ANN.

Evening Star, Issue 14636, 4 August 1911, Page 4

MERELY MARY ANN.

WANTS TO JOIN A UNION. [FiJOM OCR SPECIAL CoRIiESrONDENT.] AUCKLAND. August 4. In these day.-, of unions and the undoubted benefits arising to the working classes, it comes as no surprise to hear that "Merely Mary Ann" has come to the conclusion that her industries would be better preserved in unity than in the present free-and-ea.-y state thai makes her a victim to her mi.-tres.,'.-. whims, at least when the supply happens to be larger than the demand. With this laudable object in view, Labor set to work, and in response to an invitation for 500 domestic servants to be present, a fair number rolled_ up to the Central Hall, Cook street, on Wednesday evening for the purpose of forming a domestic servants' union. Mrs Emily Nieol, who ha.s be*m investigating the conditions of employment, said' that she had been to one place where a breakfast f-.ir 12 had to be got ready by 7 a.m., in addition to which "the domestic h.id to perform all the attendant work. Hours of work were from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m., and all for 12s 6<l to 15s p*-r week. Food supplied to servants was beyond description. On occasions butter of the worst chaws was bought for tho maids, and instead of fresh milk they bad to be content with .-kirn: also the furnishing supplied to the retiring rooms of the keepers of the domestic hearths was not what it should be. Coneluding, she made a powerful appeal to those present to assist in getting betterconditions of life for domestic workers, it being necessary, sho considered, in tho interests of the girls and in the interest of the nnt ion and tho State, a.s the nnjrmic. consumptive women of the present jrcnera.I ion could not be the mothers of healthy future generations. Several employees endorsed tho previous speaker's remarks in reference to the bad conditions under which servant girls labored, and one pointed to the extraordinary work that was piled on the girls in "tho country, when', in addition to housework, they had to do milking, butter-making, etc.". and were denied the privilege of a half-holiday. "Have you ever tried to wash the pants of a farm laliorer?" was her Dual and conclusive argument as to the work performed by the girls.

Mr JMoxsom then moved—"That in the opinion of this meeting it is desirable that a domestics' union be formed." The motion was seconded, and' carried unanimously, and snltieient names wore handed iu to form the required union. It was mentioned that the Conciliation and .Arbitration Act at present does not apply to domestic workers, and it was decided that a strong movement should be raaoo this session to havo an amend me tit passed to the Act.