THE SERVANT PROBLEM.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 19027, 26 May 1925, Page 13

THE SERVANT PROBLEM.

The comfort of many households is still disturbed by tho difficulty ,in securing trained servants, and that being so it is somewhat consoling to learn from those who arc closely in touch with the problem that the tide has now definitely turned in the direction of slow but sure improvement, says an English exchange. When it was learned that the Wembley Exhibition was likely to absorb some thousands of girls wiio would be required behind the counter or as waitresses, many mistresses felt that 1924 was going to bring 110 relief, but rather to accentuate their already great difficulties. The exhibition, however, neither affected the position during the period when it was open, nor has it contributed an appreciable number of newcomers to. domestic service now that its gates are closed. The girls employed there are drawn almost .entirely from the class composed of shop lyssistants an d waitresses. A certain number havo taken up daily housework, but comparatively few have hitherto found their way to registry offices. Tho great difficulty at tho present time appears to bo in finding young girls to train as kitchenmaids and botween-maids who will fill the places of the older generation of servants in years to come. Many girls when they leave elementary schools would bo willing to enter service, but the mothers are frequently opposed to their doing so, owing to the fact that if they can earn a living while still remaining under the family roof-tree they contribute a regular weekly sum to the family budget. Again, many .mistresses are unwilling to take an untrained maid, and this fact presents one of the great obstacles to a large numboV of girls who might otherwise take up domestic work. It is true that girls are nowadays given lessons in domestic scienco at many elementary schools throughout tho country, and that they can attend evening classes or take nn inexpensive course on the subject at n polytechnic; but experience has proved that the only real training is that which is secured in a practical way at a lady's house.

That it is somewhat easier to obtain ti'ained servants, both in London and the provinces, is attributed to tho fact that Unemployment is driving a number of women to take up domestic work, and that onco thev have made tho plunge it appeals to them. Moreover, tho spirit of unrest which has prevailed in past years is now dying down, and servants aro staying for longer periods in one place. The improvement, however, is exceedingly slow, and it is a curious fact that while there is severe unemployment among women there aro good, well-paid posts vacant whirl) employers have difficulty in filling. The number of skilled daily workers is sc great, that if they could be induced to ' sleep in " there would hardly be a domestic servant problem to solvo.