THE DOMESTIC SERVANT PROBLEM.

Marlborough Express, Volume XLII, Issue 102, 1 May 1908, Page 7

THE DOMESTIC SERVANT PROBLEM.

Mr C. J. Monro, of Palmerston North, has sent to the Scotsman a letter, chiefly devoted to the subject of New Zealand as a field for the employment of female labour. He says: —"I have no hesitation in saying that the lot of the domestic worker in this country is preferable to that in any other. At present we are enjoying a time of extreme prosperity, not because of the national policy—some of which has, no doubt, been wise—but because in recent years all our products have commanded wonderful prices in the markets of the world. Every thoughtful person knows quite well that to. send '-Ciie country ahead New Zealand should encourage immigration, as Canada is now doing; but our socialistic Government daren't inaugurate such a scheme. It w.oukl be unpopular, and would lose them the support of every labour union in the Dominion. We have a population of less than 1,000,000, and the country

is capable of supporting many times that number. lir 1000 domestic servants were landed in -Wellington tomorrow they would all find places within a few days, at wages ranging from 12s to £1 per week.

NEW ZEALAND WOOL

To the current number of the British Australasian, a Bradford correspondent contributes an article on the subject, of Romney-merino crossbred wool. He says*—"During the past two years complaints have been very numerous over the short-stapled character of New, Zealand crossbred wool. Every Bradford buyer has complained bitterly at the stumpy character of the staple, being mostly what are known in the trade as of carding, and not combing length. Let the reader bear in mind that in good 40's wool length and lustre are two essential characteristics, and in very many— perhaps the bulk—of the last New Zealand clips these have been wanting features. I, may be wrong, but I rather incline to think that this is entirely due to the discarding of the Lincoln and Leicester ram, and its substitution with such a breed as the Romnej? Max*sh 5> whose fleece comes under the description of demi-lustre wool, which" -is much shorter than either tjhe Lincoln or Leicester."- 3in conclusion, the writer observes:-— "When we turn to look at River Plate crossbijeds we see there a continuance_ of the' free" use of the Lincoln, this sheep dominating every other where crossbreds are kep£." i