DOMESTICS UNITE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22412, 7 May 1936, Page 14

DOMESTICS UNITE

SOUTH ISLAND MOVE AWARD TO BE SOUGHT DOMINION BODY PREDICTED [by TELEGRAPH —rRESS ASSOCIATION] CHRISTCHURCH, Wednesday Over 100 domestics who met at tho Trades Hall last night unanimously decided to form a South Island Industrial Union of Workers. Provisional cxccutivo officers wero appointed to apply for registration, and to draft claims for an award. Mr. J. Roberts, secretary of the New Zealand Clothing Trades Federation, presided. "If there are two groups of workers in New Zealand to-day who are suffering under long hours and low wages," said Mr. Roberts, "they are farm labourers and domestic servants. Under favourable legislation tho chance of improving their lot is at hand," lie said. Mr. Roberts added that an attempt to form a union had failed in 1907, through the introduction of legislation to prevent domestic workers approaching the Arbitration Court for an award, on the ground that they were not employed in an industry trading for profit. Tho new Government, however, had promised to amend tho legislation, and the workers would be able to gain tho award that had been denied them for so long. » Mr. R. Brooks, secretary of the Hotel and Restaurant Workers' Union, suggested the formation of a South Island Union as tho best means of organising. The workers of the North Island would probably follow tho lead and ultimately the two bodies could bo merged into a national organisation. "During the depression, Mr. Brooks said, "many domestic servants wero forced to put up with terrible conditions. They were paid wages that wero described as being better than nothing* Often their rooms were not fit for a dog to live in. This was the treatment they received from employers who tra\el!cd about the country, staying at_ expensive hotels where the. tariff was 2os a day.