THE COUNTRY GIRL

Maoriland Worker, Volume 10, Issue 448, 8 October 1919, Page 7

THE COUNTRY GIRL

Dear Wahiine, —I have been wondering if, thTough the coiunu.. cf Th'e Worker, we can organise our women to obtain legislation tor the benefit of our girls in the country. As you know, in the country there is not ll choice cf occupation for girls, and so we ttnd many very fine girls acting as domestic servants in other people's homes. In towns where girls are working in oflices, factories aud shops, the employers are compelled to evory girl and woman employed a lon night's aol.uay p'.-T year on ,v,, _ay, aiv Xiey •*ti L.lllS pt.-niLltk.-u _ v o* c-C- !•'"- itation of her euo.ce; oi' employment? S.i.; is ko widely scatku-ed, 100 remote i'rimi other g"iris .similarly placed, to Li- al.iie eflicL-ntly fo organise on her own behalf. Also she is "a girl" only, \Xith not luueh power iv U'e eyes ot ; politicians. \"ery often she staniis aXne, helplessly depeiuknt; on th .'e> waims and selhshr,.ess of those whom she serves. I understand the domestic help is not even entitled to a holiday duriug .he year, unless th. agreement is made with .her mistress betore a witness, surely such liljust.ee should be removed, ami it is a matt-r our women who are -rgaiused in cl.h'erent tew_, societies, ._oui<- take up for her. Her work is oiteu ol an irksome nature, and unuer eond.tions which no independent girl in town, with a wiuer scojje A n iroi.fc of her, would endure. In the eyes <•_ the law she has no "rignts" of her own. is it any wonder that girls do not rush" domestic service, when conditions are as they are, and there is noclung to prevent inconsiderate employers from making service exceedingly unpleasant and una'tractive, it is no uuconimuii thing, when employers wish to economise, for them to begin with eh. ioou allowance of "help," ai-r-Kidy insuilicitn. oiiouj,'-. liow.ver, the economy does not ex'.ond beyond the i;itciie__ rt'neio the "maid" sits aione, t:-ym to r w warm h«rseii in winter at a el-s-U Ki'i-te. whilst the "ramily'" are wana and cosy before a blazing, crackiiiij,' lue of togs in ai_ open grate. .\"i!i tii e i\u'iiie_ ivho read this column ).•; ..ii- matter oelor. our members .1 i-arl.anient, and strive to have some legislation passed giving* to our girls, who net'as domestic helps, riga)i.s of their own? Especially in this matter lt an _n_n_l holiday on full pay. Aisi.v, why X'nj-i.'i no. iui<. which employ a number of girls, be compelled to provide a comfortable tittle room for t-teir use as a private s.tting room, —and a room with a fireplace, in small hou.es, where only o«e maid, t>r "help" i.s kept, when t-H----lamiiy ar e atone there should be no objection to her sharing t-"e family life and xjrivileges of warmth. Oh! women, especially you who are organised in towns, take up th© cause ot" your own flex. Yours for th© help of our girl., GRACE E. WILLS. Schoolhouse, Glentunnel, September 122, 1919. j