THE DOMESTIC WORKER.

Feilding Star, Volume I, Issue 192, 15 February 1907, Page 4

THE DOMESTIC WORKER.

DEMANDS OF THE NEW UNION. SOME OUTSPOKEN OPINIONS. " Yes, I have received one of those papers 1 What do I think of the demands? They are the most idiotic things I ever saw or heard of!" - f This was the reply given to a Post representative by a lady employer of ; a domestic servant. That she is ; entitled to rank as a good mistress j is proved by the fact that during ! the time she has been employing help • she had only two servants — one was ; with her five and a half years, and ' the other, who is still with her, is ' now in her sixth year. How had she kept them? Well, they were good girls, and she had been considerate to them. Only on two Sundays had she ever kept them in the house after midday dinner was finished, and they had every evening off after the work was done, excepting Saturday. With the exception of Christmas Day, she always gave her girls their freedom on all holidays, the family taking a cold luncheon on holidays for the girl's sake. "Why, whan I showed the demands to my servant, she laughedat them, and said: 'How absurd! How one-sided they are — they're al.l for the girls t' Then, %gain, there is the demand for girls to stay out on Thursdays until midnight ! Whoever heard of such a thing? What good can that be expected to do the girls ? It's more like an incentive for harm to allow them to be about the streets until midnight! It's shocking, I think. And the mistress, after a hard day's work, is to be compelled either to sit up until midnight for the return of Her servant or to give the girl the latoh key — which is most objectionable! Then we are to give our girls holidays on Christmas Day and Boxing Day. Now ,isn't that thoughtless! How on earth is a mistress to get on without her girl on Christmas Day of all times in the year ? I don't mind giving Boxing Day, but the other day is quite out of reason." The lady interviewed said she could not imagine herself being compelled to sign the demands of the union. It was too unreasonable. And most of all were the demands unfair to those people who employed several servants. Imagine a mistress being left on one day of the week to do the work of the nurse, the housemaid, and the cook. How could the mistress do it? Why, it was preposterous ! And then Is an hour had to be paid for work done on holidays. Really, there weren't any girls worth Is an hour. The trend of the demands appeared to her as if the union wa strying to make girls believe that mistresses were regular ogres. It had to be remembered that domestic work differed from all other classes of labour. There were more emergencies in the home than anywhere else, and the unexpected arrival of a visitor would throw many regular arrangements out of gear. For these emergencies the girl must be prepared to help, for the housework must be done. "It will come to this if the demands are insisted upon," she said in conclusion, "that girls will not be employed as regular servants, but help will be got in by the hour each day." A PLEA FOR CONSIDERATION. " I've been in service myself, and I know what servants hay»- had to put up with, so that I speak from experience of actual work as well,, as from my connection with tnose for whom I am now engaged in finding situations," said the keeper of a registry office. "But those demands will never work — they can't be taken seriously as they are put there. Tbo girls who come to me complainly sadly of the quarters which they havt to sleep in, and what should certainly be provided for them is a nice clean bedroom. Then, although there are many good mistresses, there are others who should manage their work better and show more consideration to their girls. For instance, they might portion out the girl's morning work, and let her take a rest when she has got through that, and she should be free wlien^she has done her afternoon's work ; and certainly she should get off on holidays as soon as she has finished all absolutely necessary work. I don't believe that girls should be dressed as well as paid by mistresses, but if the latter want girls to wear such things as caps, collars, and cuffs, then such e«tras should be provided by the mistress. I think, too, that girls should be made to forfeit a week's wage if they leave their mistresses without adequate or just cause; but I can't blame a girl for not entering into a contract to fill an engagement if she has heard anything detrimental to a place. Laundresses should receive special consideration, for theirs is hard work, and they should cease work from Saturday afternoon until Monday morning. As I have been a servant, and know the needs of service, 1 am sure it is impossible to give girls the whole day off. I've been a servant, and I ought to know." NO UNIONISTS NEED APPLY. "If those demands are to be put into force ? when will the mistresses get any time to themselves? That's what I'd like to know," said another keeper of a registry office. "I think they're dreadful, you know. I have a number of mistresses on my I list who won't employ girls who belong to the union. Some girls have a bad time, I know, and are overworked ; but the majority have a good time. And they are so well paid nowadays. Why, an ordinary 'general' gets 15s a week, and I have places, with small families, at which £1 is given. There is a far greater demand for 'generals' than we can supply. The girls have such a cravr ing for liberty, they want so much time off to enjoy themselves. And, do you know, I have had girls here who wanted places where they would be allowed to practice their music lessons! One girl actually wanted time to play the banjo ! Girls like places in hotels and boardinghouses, because there is so much bustle and life there; they find times 'slow,' they say, in private homes. But these demands: Fancy allowing girls out till midnight — why that's a disgraceful demand 1 "I certainly think girls should get a clear half-holiday, from 2 or 2.30 o'clock right on through the evening, and good mistresses, of which there are as many as of good servants, will certainly allow girls to stay at a dance occasionally. Why, some of the servant girls will themselves laugh at these demands. Do you think people will sit down quietly under this? Although, I must admit, some mistresses are not. as considerate to their girls as they should be, and their girls have a lot to ! contend with, especially in some boardinghouses, where the girls are on their feet so long. But, really, the demands are over done. Girls are allowed to go to early mass, but to ask for two hours at midday on Sundays is unreasonable. Most of the girls who have come to me are content with their conditions. Really ■ its a problem how to better the lot of girls and at the same time satisfy mistresses; but these demands of the union are not at all well thought out — and some are so absurd!"