DOMESTIC SERVICE

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXI, Issue 6745, 17 February 1909, Page 6

DOMESTIC SERVICE

HOW TO SECURE EFFICIENT HELP. VIEWS OF THE HON. G. FOWLDS. SPECIAL TO 1118 "TIJIIsS." CHEISTCHURCH, February 16. At the presentation of prizes and certificates ait the Christchurch Technical College last night, the Hon. G. Fowlds, Minister of Education, made a few remarks on the domestic servant problem. He was pleased to note from the director's report that aa attempt was being made to provide instruction in domestic economy. In these days they heard a great deal of talk about the difficulty ot getting efficient domestic servants, and very often they heard suggestions made that the whole prooiem could be solved if the Education Department would only make provision for teaching domed-io economy. He did not think that it was realised by the people of New Zealand how much was being done in that respect at the present tune. It was open to the controlling authorities of technical classes in almost every part of New' Zealand to make provision for, domestic instruction for all who were willing to attend, so that if people were no; receiving domestic instruction m sufficient quantity it was not because the opportunity was not provided. In this respect he might mention a way in which those who had domestic help might assist, and that was by giving their domestics time off without loss of pay—(laughter and applause)—to attend the classes. To his mind the question of the time off was the question which would largely determine whether or not they would get the best results from technical education in the cases of either boys or girls, or of men or women. In subsequent remarks the Minister dealt with the practice adopted by several large manufacturing firms in Great Britain of encouraging their employees to make themselves efficient by attending technical classes by olio wing them time off, by paying their fees, by refunding their fees if they attended the classes regularly, or by ofiei' ng them scholarships and bursaries., 10 put a similar system into operation in New Zealand might require legislation, but if employers, employees, and the managers an* staffs 01 technical classes discussed the matter and came to an agreement regarding it he had not the slightest doubt that Parliament would the necessary legislation. The referemce in the report of the director (Mr Howell) to the subject was as follows:—"The advisory committee ' has urged upon the board the desirability of providing a home in wnich girls may receive a thorough training in the elements of home economy. Tne committee feels that while our classes in cookery and needlework, dressmaking and millinery and laundry work are rendering good and useful service, yet if we mean to traan girls to manage a home or to assist in its care, we must teach them more than this. We must place thorn in an actual home where they can perform its work under proper guidance and instruction, and learn those principles of order, economy r.:-.d health which are so essential to its right conduct."