Servant Problems

Manawatu Times, Volume 63, Issue 49, 28 February 1938, Page 12

Servant Problems

GilmanY’S elimination. girls trained in camps TEAM SPIRIT INCULCATED. Twenty thousand German girls, Detween the ages of 17 and 25, daily lend billing hands to farmers’ wives and country mothers. It is part of . the labour service. According to Reichsleiter Constantin Hierl, leader of the compulsory service—compulsory for young men but not yet for girls—the labour service is to build character, teach loyalty to the national-sccialist idea and to the Fuehrer and to inculcate team spirit. One hundred thousand girls have passed through this service. There are 500 camps in the Reich, each taking care of 40 girls. The service lasts 26 weeks and each girl must prove she is Aryan and must be passed by a doctor before she can enrol. She gets free board and lodging, a working kit, parade uniform, two pairs of stout shoes, bed linen, band towels, and 4d a day pocket money. How the Day Begins. The day begins at 5.25 a.m. with the camp leader on duty banging a gong and giving the girls a gentle “good morning.” Camp leaders are enjoined to avoid all appearance of militarism. Fifteen minutes of exercise is supposed to shake tho sleep out of the eyes of the * ‘ Arbcitsmaid. * ’ Breakfast follows the ceremony of hoisting the flag—the usual swastika with the addition of a stencilled double ear of grain—and the giving of the Nazi salute. She is on the job by 7 a.m. Some girls work in kindergartens for farm children or take care of the farm wife’s babies. Others help in vegetable gardens, bring in the hay, hoe, dig, plant, chop wood, feed pigs, and chickens drive home the cows and help in other farm work. On no occount, tho instruction emphasises, is the land girl to do “men’s work.” Work Over by 2 p.m. At 9.30 there is a second breakfast. Around two in the afternoon work is over for the day. After a hearty meal one hour is devotoed to a good sleep This is obligatory. Then until 5 p.m. the girls may do as they please. In the evening State political instruction is given and after the evening meal there are singing and games when the beloved concertina is much in evidence. The day is ended with the hauling down of the colours and the solemn Nazi salute. Lights go out at 9 p.m.