PUBLIC OPINION.

Manawatu Times, Volume LXV, Issue 656, 4 March 1909, Page 5

PUBLIC OPINION.

THE PENQBIN WREUK

■tm i M " WAS IT TOM'S ROOK?

To the Editor "Mauawatu Times." Sir,—Gould you or any of your nautioal clients enlighten me on the following subject: It was sworn at the late nautical enquiry that tho s.s. Penguin could steam 12Jtf knots an lioui; that there was a seven-knot tide and current on her starboard bow for two hours and ten minutes. Could tho ship have reaohed Tom's Rock under the ciroumgtanoeg?.—l am, eto., % LANDLUBBER. Palmerston N., Maroh 3rd, 'O9.

DOMESTIC SERVANTS.

WHAT ONE OP THEM THINKS.

To the Editor "Manawatu Times." Sir,—Mrs Wilson's letter about' bringing domestics out from the Old Oountry is all very well, but what about those that are here? We hear a great deal about the troubles of mistresses, but what about the troubles of girls? I have been in a good many "plaoes" and have worked pretty hard for my living, and honestly, I have very little to show for it beyond some very hard times. Now and then you get a mistress who is really considerate and you feel that what you do is well thought of and work with more heart beoause of that, but with an exaoting and fault-finding mistress I don't know any worse slavery than "domestic service." I oould tell you some cases of hardship here in Palmerston and some experiences with registry offices that would show you what we girls who have to earn a living in other people's kitohens have to go through and how we are fleeced and "had." There is a lot of talk about the "dignity" of "domestic servioe," but people who talk that way should try it themselves, and as for registry offices, the sooner they get a State registry office here like they have in some of the towns the better it will be for we girls who have to put up with things as they are here. I will be quite willing to write you what I know about it and get some that I know to do the same if you think it w'ill influence the Government to open an offioehere in oommon justice to poor girls and women.—l am, eto,

ONE OP THEM. Palmerston, Maroh 2nd, 'o9.'

THE RIGHT OP DISMISSAL.

To the Editor "Manawatu Times," Sir,-Die theatrical case noted by, your correspondent won Id seem-to raise some fresh points in regard to the rights left employprs. Certainly 1 did any employees of mine defy me and deolare that they would do as they pleased aud not as I pleased, in the oonduotof my business, I would promptly dispense with their services. That would be praotioal mutiny, a dpolaration that the ordinary relations of employed W6re at an end. How long would any firm keep an employee who so aoted?' And I . should imagine that whtre the service affeoted was so 1 vital ns that of a performance in view of the publio . on the stage Hie provocation was the greater, _ Thero could be only one oourse, in spite of any view' the Stratford Magistrate may have, for the employer in oiroustauoes suoh as described aud that would be to get rid or a disloyal and mutinous employee. Personally. I would have done just as Miss Baines appears to have done.—l am, eto., EMPLOYER. Palmexstou N., Mnroh 3rd. : v<.;

LOOAL TRAINING OR IMtORTA- '*■ TION. ' ■ , ■ npm To Editor Manawatu Daily Times. ' .j'. Sir,—As an anxious housewife with a family of young ohildren who has oontiuually to :lo her own work ' " or to struggle with inefficient help, I hope you will support the movement for the free immigration of domestiq servants, . whioh Mrs ; i Oraoroft Wilson lias written to you about, Every editor who lias the ; good of the country at heart should do so, foi there is a great deal more in it than appears on the surface. We are told 'that we should have ■ large families and good example is 1 being given to ud in high places.: But where are wo going to get the domestio help that will free, our hands to look after the brood of wee chicks when wo oan't affoid experts in every department. The o,omfort that one good girl or woman is in a house then only mothers, know, but the trouble is that suoh a one iB so very hard to get. We hear a lot about domestio training in our teobnioal solioois, but we don't see many good qualified helps turned out by them, and it seems to mo that while we should get good girls from the Old Country if we oan get them, we should try some way of training ■the material we have' hero.-I am, etc,, /: L

A MOTHER; Palmerston, tyaroh 3.