Problem of Domestic Servants

Manawatu Times, Volume 63, Issue 44, 22 February 1938, Page 11

Problem of Domestic Servants

ADDRESS TO NATIONAL COUNCIL OF WOMEN A meeting of the Palmerston North branch of the National Council of Women was held yesterday afternoon, Mrs. H. Patterson presiding. Those present were Mesdames K. Ross (Feild* ing), W. A. Boniface (Palmerston North), G. Short (Feilding), Aldworth (Silverhope), M. D. Colquhoun (Feeding), Briden-Jones (Palmerston North), D. Simpson (Marton), T. Green (Stanway), and Misses C. McKenney (Pahiatua), M. E. Matheson (Palmerston North), C. Jamieson (Palmerston North), and Miss H. M. Saunders (act-ing-secretary, Palmerston North). The vice-president, Miss McKenny, spoke on “Domestic Problems," her address being followed with great interest.. The discussion of the problem, said the speaker, referred exclusively to that of obtaining and retaining domestic service in private homes, the difficulty being unfortunately greatest where the need was most urgent—in the case of mothers with young children. The competition of comparatively high wages, fixed hours of work, and weekly holidays of hotels, boarding-houses and restaurants was largely responsible but not altogether. There was a time when housework in a good home conferred a higher status than similar work done in hotels and boarding houses. The changed conditions and wages in the former positions had altered that—together with the better general education of girls.

Study of the situation had produced varipus suggested remedies and prominent, at first, among potential reforms, was a change of name for the employee in the home. A change would no doubt . contribute some advantage if allied to a.definite generally accepted change in the status. ' For the relationship of employer and employee in a home — mistress and maid—remained feudal and the. despotism of tradition and custom was still with us!

The director of technical education had pointed out that the relationship of hotel and restaurant-keeper to his servant was that of business employer to tradeswoman employee—like that of shopkeeper and shop girl. They were as “partners in a business, both deriving their livelihood from it." The relationship was distinct from personal service—and it was not professional service, said Miss McKenny. Requests from women's organisations for provision of schools for organised teaching and training in domestic work with a view to raising it to professional or semi-professional standing, had been made, and the proposition involved what would seem prohibitive financialoutlay with uncertain results as to durable servicing of homes. Recently she had made a careful survey of the possibility of raising housework to the standard of a profession with the ultimate conclusion that it was impossible. It was interesting to note in the report already quoted the same opinion expressed. Would mistresses of homes accept the position of being clients from even trained workers entering into their households in the way they accepted advice and services from nurses and doctors? asked the speaker.

To aim at a trade relation would seem to offer more hope of a solution of the problems. In many hospitals, especially those of smaller size, there had lately been a shortage of workers for non-nursing duties and to meet this need a scheme was now under review whereby a limited number of girls could be trained in such work as house-care, laundry, nutrition, cooking and simple nursing suitable for the home invalid. The proposed course would be conducted by qualified instructors for a fixed period, a certificate awarded after successful examination and then registration as in tho case of nurses. Entrants for the course would perform all

non-nursing duties in the hospital during the term of training. A suggested name for these assistants was “aides" —a name already in use and honourably connected with war service.

Only hospitals that were not training schools could undertake this work. The suggested scheme was still in course of preparation and so had not been presented to Hospital Boards, Miss McKenny said. Meantime, it seemed advisable to continue intensive study of this pressing need for adequate help—especially for mothers. Publicity concerning homecrafts, modern improvements, labour-saving techniques, even constructive private conversations make their contribution.

The beauty of gracious living, the final achievement of the well-ordered home, was surely a project worthy of our continued study and endeavour, concluded the speaker. Miss McKenny was accorded a warm vote of thanks.

A request was received from headquarters asking for the history of the branch, and it was decided to leave the matter in the hands of the president and vice-president, Mrs. Patterson and Miss McKenny. The forthcoming visit of Miss Kathleen Courtney, who is visiting Palmerston North in the course of a Dominion tour, during which she will address various organisations on peace questions, was discussed and a comprehensive programme has been mapped out during her visit to Palmerston North. On Monday, March 7, there will be a Rotary luncheon which Miss Courtney will address and' in the evening a meeting of the Business and Professional Women's Round Table Club, followed by a round-table discussion organised by the League of Nations Union, will be held. On Tuesday, Mareh 8, Miss Courtney will address the secondary schools and in the afternoon a combined meeting of Women's Division of the Farmers' Union and Women's Institutes and finally on Wednesday night a public meeting.