THE WHITE SLAVES OF MAORILAND!

NZ Truth, Issue 72, 8 December 1906, Page 4

THE WHITE SLAVES OF MAORILAND!

A WORD TO THE WOMEN WORKERS. (By Arthur Picard.) Yes, I call "It slavery, nothing more or less, when a woman 'works from daylight till dark, and long after dark, too, and • noble, man does his eight hours and finishes. Well, good luck to him, he has brought that condition of affairs about by demanding that eight hours shall constitute a day's labor. What a ' contrast to the white woman slaves of Maoriland. I tell you that you' are slaves, and you always will be slaves, until you throv/ off -the yoke and demand that you receive fair treatment, the same as other workers receive. At last you are moving, I note with the keenest satisfaction, both in' Wellington and Auckland, but when you move this time make every post a winning post, and remember my words LET THERE BE NO TURNIN& BACK ! Be brave, I say, and stick to your guns, and victory all along the line is yours. You are right m forming unions for your own protection, and you have justice on your side. A few years ago a Domestic Workers' Union was formed m Wellington, and this pen was m communication with the secretary. He will remember, but his name has dodged my memory at present, and he informed me by letter that the female workers were apathetic m that windy quarter of Zealandia, almost afraid, I suppose, but at last there is another move, and I say to 3 r ou down there and away up m sunny Auckland , move right aFead,

you are on the right track, and those interested aire engaged m the most glorious work possible, and that is the betterment of the domestic slave. Yes, I feel safe m calling her a slave m thousands of cases ; and not only axe the hours worked a disgrace to these fair isles wi-th all the boasts of being a workers' garden of Eden, but, just think of it— this writer has thought, of it for years past— what a piece of barbarity it is to detain any woman m a house after her. day's work is done ! Is that human, I ask? How would some of the eight hour a day crowd perform if the boss told them they could Ret out one or two nights a week ? They would probably tell him to go to— well, you know where the street screecher with the big drum and the collection box says we are all sliding to ; where they apparently don't require to wear flannel during the summer months. NO WOMAN OR GIRL SHOULD BE KEPT ON A CHAIN, as it were, and loosened once or twice a week. When their fair day's work is done their time should lie their own. Mary Ann's night out, indeed ! I say that Mary Ann's night out should be every night m, the week if she so chooses, and away with this infernal, diabolical system of keeping human beings penned m like animals, because it is a custom handed down to us. I tell you, women of Maoriland, the remedy is • m your hands. You can, and I believe you will, malic a change ; but it all depends on yourselves. Perhaps you have never thought of it, but the eyes of the whole world are on Zealandia, so far as the English-speaking portion of it are concerned. This country and its ri/rht away up-to-date democratic legislation has opened the eyes of even the Dear Ma Land. Now, I want you to show the , world what you can do with the domestic slave question. You • slog your lives out, and put up with all sorts of misery simply for the want of a little forethought for yourselves. There are ppeat numbers of noble souls only too willing to help you to better .conditions, and other unions, lam sure, would be only too willing to reach their hands out to support and welcome you into their ranks. But you must help yourselves and be self-supporting, and show us what you are made of. You are looked on by some as a menial sort of a creature. That does not suit me. No, no. ALL WORK IS BEAUTIFUL AND HONORABLE, and you are as great and good m your position as any woman on the planet. I only wish you would all -respect yourselves m your calling as much as I respect you. You must not accept s\ich a view. Your work is good and glorious, and the best training ground for any woman who some day intends to have a home and all its natural beauty of her own. We call you Mary Jane or Mary Ann, but the young siren behind the counter would be Miss So-and-so. Well, very good, she is entitled to it, and so are you, and you are entitled to all the respect, and so forth that she receives. What caddish and senr-ieless ideas the human family get into their po o r noodles about position. Truly, "All 'the world's a stage, and all themen and . women merely players." Well, it would be a funny world if al] were acting the same parts., You are acting; your part 1 the same as the rest, and your services are indispensable to the community; but you must put a higher value on 'Your services, and demand fair and humane treatment, and if the home workers of Zealandia would only combine and demand better conditions there is nothing to prevent them from getting them. If ever n, cause needed the support of all the unions it is yours. In Palmerston North during Showtime I had an eye-opener as to real genuine, RIGHT DOWN SLAVERY. There is a foreigner with an accommodation house there, and during the whole of that busy time he did not put on any extra help, and the slaves were going at top for him, and as soon as the Show was over he discharged one of them because she did not keep up with the rush. Sueh 1 a man does not, know how to treat a woman (unless she is the particular brand that suits him), although he is a married man. Should this class of human be allowed to employ female labor ? No, decidedly not. It is to protect yourselves m this respect, and hundreds of others, that you require to form your unions, and stand shoulder to shoulder together for the general good of your class of worker. Protect yourselves and be independent like other classes of the workers are, with proper hours for recreation and a fair wage. * No wonder female laboir is so hard to obtain at times. The women are only human, and would rather put their eight hours a day m at a factory or shop, etc., than drudge from morn till late at- night, and then be looked down on, and even kept inside of an evening. Is thast justice ? After slogging her soul-case out all day she is to be", as it were, put on the chain at night. Surely such a state of things ought to awaken" you. You have got your half-holi-day a week, well, by combining and demanding fair treatment m other respects you shall get it. There is .nothing unreasonable m your demands, and what you want is a leader from the ranks of your own sex, one with a level head and a will power of steel, who is heart and soul with you m your cause : but get the ri«rht brand of leader. Not the one that rushes around trying to force cold tea down everyone's throat, and advocates raising the age of consent from sixteen to sixty, and who wants to STRUT ABOUT IN BLOOMERS, and run around looking for Chows to convert while thousands of her own sex are perishing for the want of a kind word and a helping hand. That brand of leader would only hinder your cause, and brins ridicule on your efforts, and you can well afford to do without hear. To get your unions properly established will require earnest and patient eJTort, but you will reach your goal if you will but persevere. You are but demanding your rights. I APPEAL DIRECT TO THE PRIME MINISTER, land emphatically state that this class of worker should be helped out of the deplorable condition she is m compared to the other workers m this country, and furthermore, 1 state that oft times out of a paltry pittance that she receives for her slavery she has to pay away from five shillings to seven and six and her fare to the situation, and what chance does that give her to put ? bit away for a rainy day ? No, itogs want altering,

and it is simply cruel to ask a woman for such a fee when sn e has to work so hard for her few shillings, and often receives a paltry wage. Of course, there are exceptions ; a real eood female cook m this land of milk, honey, and. shandy gaff, gets a good livine wage, especially m some hotels, but I am speaking mostly of the home domestic. Women have told me that m private houses m hundreds of cases it is o. perfect workhouse from morning' till night, and that, 'despite the fact that they would prefer work m a private capacity they are compelled to take to hotel work. Yes, give Boniface his due, he does not usually work ' the heart out of his servants, although there is room for improvement, and rclenty of it, both m hotels and restaurants. There should be stated hours and a fixed salary for all classes of domestic work ; and, of all classes, the Government should STAND BY OUR WOMEN who do the work of the home. To thoroughly understand all the workings of a home, and to be what is called a "general" is a profession m itself, and you can make all youir work such. In connection with the formation of your Unions it is indispensable that you have a Worki-ngwomen's Club m each town, and it would act as a home at a reasonable figure, a registry office for your employers to apply for your services, and a place to conduct all your business m connection with your . Society. Just put your hearts into this Woirk, and you will see what you are capable of. You will surprise even yourselves and earn the respect of all classes, and your lives will be brighter and happier, whereas at» present m large numbers of cases, it is a continual drudge and slush. I contend that Malcy Jane and Mary Ami are just as human and have just as much feeling as Marguerita and Gwendoline, and are entitled to just as happy a life, ' too ; yes, and as much respect. Remember, the position you are m. You have worked for yourself, and have nobody but .yourself to thank for it. Your work is beautiful, noble, and good, and you are as important m the community as the highest lady m the land. Some of the workers annoy me. They are ashamed to be seen m their workins: duds, and dodge away up a back street on the home run from work. Glory m your work, I say, and your grimy faces and soiled hands win my respeqt, and often I have caught Eve m her working wardrobe m different parts of the land, even at, a wash tub, raid she nevyr looks more beautiful when caught thus unawares, ' as she looks as natural as the flowers. 1 wish you would get it out of your brains that we admire you with a few inches of waist, a kiss curl, and padded from the top of your crown to your shoes. I- am not averse to the female form divine being encased m a corset, but it is overdone, and great numbers spoil their health, and that of the little ones that are. to brighten their lives m after years, but I must not drop into a health lecture to you, as Mr Un'uissed . Bligh has no doubt opened your eyes. When we come to consider the awful hours worked by the woman worker it is time that something was done. She is just as entitled to right treatment at the hands of the employers as ev<efry other worker, is, but she must arouse herself and demand it. Even, if a woman bo m a. fairly easy position, she should join hands with her distressed sisters^ Had* a chat with a 'daughter of Adam up m Hawera da^ afore yesterday. She was spinning hash through the atmosphere anrt was acting a.s housemaid as well, and was a real ding-donger at her business ; she was receiving 10s a week, and had been offered Bs, and was giving the game best. Now, isn't that "disgraceful .? Fancy, out of the ten mean bob, she has to pay her fare to another situation and 5s or 7s 6d for another position— perhaps worse than the one she already occupies. Candidly, there must be' an alteration for the white slaves of the Land of the Moa. Every- worker is worthy of his or her hire, and we ought to stand by the woman workers of this icoun'trv. It is unjust that she should be trod m the dust. It is all very well for Lady Jane to cry out that she cannot ge-t servants. .-. Let her learn how to treat them. "Women are sick of the unnatural drudgery, and rush away into the shops and factories where they work fair hours and receive more respect, and are thought more of and are dubbed Miss, and have all their evenings to themselves and. are treated like human beings. Knew a crack business man m sinful Sydney. 'Twas a pleasure to watch the courteous, manner he treated his waitresses, etc. He would treat his women workers the same as he would his divests, and why not ? Thevars entitled to, it. He got all the respect back from his staff, who worked like one machine for him. This is- . AN EXTREMELY IMPORTANT MATTER, as it constitutes the welfare of thousands of bread winners, and success is to be had if only it is sought persistently. It is all very well to start the Unions, but .the great thing is to hang on like grim death and make 'em solid, and it will Vie returned ja thousandfold. Some say she is only for the drudgery of a home, but I say she is for thousands .of other walks of life, and when she gets her fair due on this planet -we will have ~ difference. Now, let me again remind you all connected with this grand work. Stand to your guns ! Let there be no going back ! Fear not ! Success is yours. You will win and you will sever the bonds that, to-day hold m nothing 1 but slavery compared to the eight-hour worker, the White Slaves of Maoriland. New Plymouth, Nov. 25, 1906.