THE DOMESTIC SERVANT PROBLEM.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XLIII, Issue XLIII, 6 April 1909, Page 1

THE DOMESTIC SERVANT PROBLEM.

A WOMEN'S P^MlOtf TO PARLUMEJp.a'f . • V : ' '■,•'?:.'"''■,•; Another meeting^^ladles . was held yesterday afternoon^ to discuss matters in connection witK.\the -petition' that is to be presented to Parliament bearing on the domestic serSriwt problem. ThY fathering was presided over, by Mr*' iules. It was decided t* canvass the district for signatures' to the 'petition. The full text of the .p etition that is to be presented to Parliament is as-fol-lows : — i To the Honourable 'Spealcer aod Members of the HouM-:;'r,F; Representatives in Parliament ; asa6mbled.— The petition, .of 'the' ' undersign&i women of the-'l»mi^'n".if"'J*ewVS*ea- - land htmibly fShdweti^ :%.: -~ V 1. That yonr' petitioners aroV women of th Dominion of New Zealand oyer the age of 21 years." -V V-V '"-^ -^ 2. Tiat, your;;*MtitibnerßV;"desirp' to: bring udder the - notjce r 'Vof .^Parliament-. tbe'fact % thai there his been for 'soma V" years, past -a gr^t; jdecrease fin, _ the number- ttl -girls"- and single"; women - of- "■■-'■ f ering themselves fofiilomestic; service consequent upon a disinclination on their part to, folldw'-BU^i ; 'at:ocation,' and this condition of things" hig been rendered mere acute owingv.to.'theV increasing '-demand for'ij'omeji.. workers in our manufacturing industries as ' a result of coming into operation -of the preferential tariff. .- .., -■-.; 3 That though- far ; «>Me' : time-*)ast there has also lleen : an '-increasing demand for domestic. worker^ Jhere^has, . owing to the Vfdctsl-aßbii^ftentioned, been an ever'-decre-'sinji'' --iiiffity- of girls and young '' wbineri' offering*-' for : such work .-. .•-■'* ; ' - V 4. That ■ your - petitioners > are _of opinion that'll the , 'oondit{6ii''of "^things complained of remairii unremedied, a sc-iious menace to the -health' of the women of our land may .'.bo ifceasioned, a further decline in : the 'birth-rate of the Dominion may result.VTand' the physique and upbringing ofV succeeding generations may be detrimentally affected. " ':„-■.■- 7. That not only vis the .health of ihe women of the DoniinidnVand' their children affected or thViiateiniefr by. reason of the cond'lidnsv'JobtaSiiing^.but in many cases the peace aid happiness of the home are seriously affected, numbers who h?ve". alreidytT; given up housekeeping by reason of "-thai.inatteTS complained of, and tney-'View^mth.ap-prehension the future- pf''thV'homet. life of the country. " -rCv: ■"■-..- v- .v 8. Your pelitiouers-r\Vould<"JOint*out that it is not the wealthy}; ok. well-tordo class who. suffer the 'most 'acutely -by reason of the dearth, ""f^toestic- workers, a« the members of such, class. can, •' by reason of their position, Vobtain domestic workers by^nprding. out inducements of increased salary and" other privileges and conditions-wnich" the majority of the- housewives of -the country find it impossible to concede^ 9. Your petitioners- strongly disavow any intention of. objecting:, to the present standard of .."wages :for domestic workers, or of suggesting : 'the adoption of any measure which might, directly or indirectly have the' effect of reducing such wages, which your petitioners regard as one of the, chief attractions to the immigrant. 10. Your petitioners are aware that settlers eve.n -.slightly removed from contres of population -find it in numerous cases impossible to procure that help which is essential- in the. case of a mother with a young -family. 11. Your petitioners would also emphasise the fact- disclosed i>y. the JReg-istrar-iGjeneral's - returns theft. tne>re were on 31st March, 1908,.;61;00O more males than females- in .the; Dominion. 12. Your petitioners - are i of opinion" that the' -grievances, nnder-iwhich . many of the women of > the: labour could be remedied, -if not- entirely removed, by the Government adopting ! for a time a system of free immigration j for single young women suitable for I domestic service. <. 13. Your petitioners; are j also of opinion that .the fas* jtmmjigration of > strong,' willing',!:andablev;single- women of good character, eveit if ; without previous experience . in* domestic service, would at once'prove of great benefit to numbersii-dl over-worked mothers : and women iof -thai Dominion, by reaison of the -girls -ultimately marrying and settling 'iir-*he;tcbuntry, 'must make for theitcloser.:' settlement, and future prosperity 'of opr ' Jaid. ■- j Your petitioners therefore humWy ' pray: — (a) That the. grievances .under which yoar netit2onersMalKMlJ^niay*receivG_ the I careful consideration-Vot'-the UQnouxaDie l members of the House of -.."Reppeeeata- | tives. < ..'" .'..-"-.■ :'VY ■'. _ . • I (b) That steps, may- Immediately, be taken by the' Government'.ot.the^Bpmi. nion to establish a system if free, immigration from the .United Kingdom of 1 Great Britain and Ireland, for single I young women of good health and,;SharI acter, who are suttaDle-fonandi-wilting ! to follow the calling of domestic, seiv ! vice. • .-,,,,- --(c) That with a view of obtaining ! a class of tingle young-women suitabft to the requirements . of .the . Dominion, the Government establish a bureau, and ■ that tnch be placed under women of experience, Ultimately.: acquainted with . tiie condition of things here obtaining, I and witi) a propiir knowledge of the de- . j scription of future colonist required. . . " (d) That such young- women when selected, be placed under 'suitable and efficient matrons immediately prior to embarkation, and remain under such supervision during this voyage, and after arrival in the Dominion until such time as suitable "positions shall _hava been found for thenv