THE DOMESTIC WORKER

Manawatu Times, Volume LIV, Issue 6865, 21 March 1929, Page 11

THE DOMESTIC WORKER

A TRAINING IN POLITICS. Before they have had an opportunity even of striking their first great political blow, the influence of the newly enfranchised 5,240,000 women is making itself felt. This influence is going to operate in more ways than the political one, states an English writer. Chelsea Conservatives have discovered that, of the 11,400 new women voters on the register in that constituency, between 8,000 and 10,000 aro domestic workers. Led by its member, Sir Samuel Hoare (Minister for Air), and Lady Maud Hoare, Chelsea initiated, at the Town Hall, a unique movement in the political arena—one that is likely to have repercussions in the world of domestic workers, and should benefit employers and employed in their wide understanding of each other. For the first time a member of Parliament invited his women constituents to meet him and his wife to discuss ways and means of educating, politically, their domestic staffs. Existing Conservative organisations —the Women’s Auxiliary Branch of the Chelsea Conservative Association, the Girls’ Clubs, and the “Imps.”—do not altogether meet the peculiar needs of the domestic- workers, and new suggestions were put forward, and particulars given of what was already being accomplished. Lady Conygham explained that she had, with some trepidation, held meetings specially for domestic workers, and that they had been most successful. In emphasising the largo number of domestic workers among them, Sir Samuel Hoaro appealed to employers to

make it easy for their employees to take part in politics, and to help get them interested. Lady Hoare stated that she and Sir Samuel were holding special meetings for domestic staffs.