“SLAVEYS.”

Lyttelton Times, Volume LXXIV, Issue 9167, 29 July 1890, Page 6

“SLAVEYS.”

TO THE EDITOR. Sir, —As I have been asked through the columns of your paper to take into consideration tfie question of getting the domestic servants,to a meeting, and having been spoken to by several persons about it, I am quite willing to give it a start, as I am in sympathy with them, knowing some of the many hardships that they have to put up with. There is not the slightest doubt but that they stand in need of the practical help and sympathy of every right-minded and true-nearted person. If they will communicate with me, by letter or personally, stating the most convenient evening for a meeting, it shall be taken in hand.— I am, &c., F. S. PARKER, (Messrs Hobbs and Co., Cathedral square).

TO THE EDITOR. Sir, —The Trades and Labour Council, to be consistent, must not stop short in their mission. They have taken every trade and occupation of importance under their wing, and to leave the “ Slaveys ” out in the cold would savour too much of intense selfishness and indifference to a large and important section of the community. Let them take the matter in hand at once, and form a union for the benefit of domestic servants in general, but more especially the barmaids, who have to “ slave ” more than eighty hours a week. —I am, &c., ANOTHER EX-SLAVEY.

TO THE EDITOR. Sib,—May I say a few words on this subject, from rather a different point of view to that of your other correspondents? While admitting that it may be necessary in many cases to take steps to lighten the labours of overworked general servants, it is to be hoped that nothing will be done to upset the relations existing between the large majority of domestic servants and their employers. I suppose there is no class in the, community who are proverbially so well off, or so thoroughly contented, as those female servants who are in houses where there is a sufficient number to make work easy for everyone. I have had a large experience extending over five and twenty years, and therefore I am not speaking without knowledge in the matter. These servants have good wages and plenty of liberty, and their health, comfort and recreation are well cared for by their mistresses, who have the traditional feeling of Englishwomen towards the members of their households; and in innumerable cases the feeling of regard is returned, and the mistress is the friend to whom the servant turns for advice. It must be borne in mind that the restrictions of their liberty, of which mention has been made, show in most cases that the mother of the family, with a proper sense of responsibility, is taking the same care of another woman’s daughter as she would of her own. Far more harm than good would be done if this state of things were upset, in the effort to help another class of servants altogether; and if any Union should be formed a marked distinction should be made and kept between the “overworked general servants,’’ of whom your correspondents have hitherto written,’ and the happy, healthy, contented members of many a family of whom lam writing.—l am, &c., MATES.