DOMESTIC HELP

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22818, 27 August 1937, Page 12

DOMESTIC HELP

AUCKLAND PBOBLEM

SHORTAGE MORE ACUTE TRIALS OF HOUSEWIVES IMPORTATIONS SUGGESTED The problem of obtaining domestic help in Auckland is becoming more acute than ever. It is not only almost impossible to obtain a reasonably competent- girl, but, once one has been engaged, it becomes a matter of just as great difficulty to retain her. For this latter factor the conditions laid down by legislation to govern work in hotels and restaurants are held to be mainly responsible. _ } Many housewives are at their wits end to know how to overcome the problem, and some Auckland families who have had experience of living abroad are even considering making private arrangements for tho importation of domestics from overseas, It is claimed that Chinese "boys" in the East are among the most efficient domestic servants in the world, and in at least one case in Auckland inquiries are being made to see whether it is possible to engage a Chinese servant in Singapose or Hongkong and obtain permission for him to enter New Zealand. The Chinese are conservative in their habits, have a liking for regular employment, and, at the same time, they aro not in the habit of asking for excessively high wages^ Inquiries at Orphanages Another indication of the acute shortage of domestics is provided bj the inquiries which are made almost daily at the various church orphanages in the city. These institutions normally train a number of girls for domestic duties and the matron of ono orphanage stated yesterday that she had received more than 200 inquiries ! this j-ear from people wishing to eni gage girls from her home. Actually she had been able to provide only two. "Scarcely a day passes without four or five inquiries," said the matron of i another orphanage. "All we can say in reply is that we are really looking for domestics ourselves. A large institution cannot be run without domestic help, and in this respect we are in almost as difficult a position as the private householder." Special Training Given The orphanage authorities point out that not all the girls from their institutions wish to go in for housework. Those who do have to complete their schooling and then receive special training for a time before thoy are allowed to accept a position, and in the main no girl from an orphanage is allowed to enter employment until she is between' 15 and 17 years of age. . . . The demand has, indeed, reached tne point at which people go "help hunting" in much the same fashion as they go" house hunting. This is exemplified principally in the case of the households of naval officers who ,pend from two to three years in New Zealand. Whenever it is known that they are due to leave on their return to England they invariably receive countless inquiries from friends and acquaintances wishing to take over their domestics. There is a suggestion, too, that the shortage in New Zealand is duo in some measure to the demand for domestic help in Australia. Several cases haire been reported recently in which competent workers have left positions in Auckland in order to take employment in Sydney.