DOMESTIC PROBLEM.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20147, 7 January 1929, Page 6

DOMESTIC PROBLEM.

BY NELLIE M. SCANLAN

THE POSITION IN ENGLAND. men doing the work. I A SATISFACTORY SOLUTION;!

. LONDON. Nov. 21.1$ While the young Dominions are nr. gently demanding domestic help, and Governments are carrying them passage free to these overseas British territories, Great Britain herself is faced with a serious shortage of domestic labour.

Servants are gladly deserting their basement quarters in English cities for the better prospects in Canada, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa.

Pre-war British houses were built with a complete staff of servants in view. Each member had his or her specific duties. They were specialists. In planning these houses, the servant's comfort, and the saving of work were apparently the architect's least considerations.

Coming from the new countries, where there are no basement dwellings, one of the first things that strikes one is the halfburied rooms where the servants dwell. Into many of them no sun can penetrate; there is little light and air. and from the windows the only view is the feet of the people passing by on the footpath outside. From these sunken kitchens and bedrooms their eyes are on a- level with the footpath. No wonder there is an eagerness to get away to the airy, sunlit spaciousness of the Dominions.

But, out there, they are faced with a different problem, the duties of one servant one home. There are few specialised jobs, no cuttipg up the work into kitchen, pantry, parlour, and chamber routine. The general servant is required to know it all.

Post-war England, the England of flats and maisonettes, now requires the one capable maid to minister to the wants of theys miniature homes'. But they can't get them. There is a constant outcry about this shortage. A new phase of idomestic service is dawning in England, however. The n<en are taking it op, and becoming more proficient than the women. The subject was recently discussed in the newspapers, and many well-known women wrote stating that ex-soldiers had solved the domestic problem for them. One novelist sakl that she took a young miner, trained him, and found him both satisfactory and loyal. He was eager to learn, and never had to be told the same thing twice.

One comfortable bachelor establishment I know is run entirely by an ex-soldier. He has something of the solemn dignity of the old-time butler as. he opens the door; he cgoks an - admirable dinner, never forgets to put 'fresh water in the flowers and the goldfish, feeds the parrot, the turtle, and the cat. He serves afternoon tea, and draws the curtains with a deft touch, and scrubs and polishes with ardent thoroughness. This little household moves on oiled cogs, and its hospitality is never marred by excuses o* apologies. This fortunate bachelor told me that when he advertised for a man for the job, he had over thirty applicants. The idea is spreading like an infection. The tired charwoman who daily " does " for you, and, poor soul, is so often ill, or detained by ailing children, is at best, a frail reed to depend upon domestically. But with the army of unemployed to draw upon, England, where this service is always a punctillious domestic rite, is turning to men, and she is finding them faithful and efficient. Another advantage is the keenness of competition. Where three maidfr might answer your advertisement you may have the pick of thirty men.