THE SERVANT GIRL PROBLEM.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XXXIX, Issue 10779, 30 May 1911, Page 4

THE SERVANT GIRL PROBLEM.

' MAIDS FROM HOME! A prominent South Canterbury farmer who, does not wish his name; made public Has "offeredi 1 the local/-Executive of the Farmers' Union a sum "of "from £SO to £IOO, or double that amount if necessary, towards the expense/of bringing domestics from Home, provided the Union tackles the problem independently (says the Timaru Herald). The offer was read to Saturday's meeting. Mr C. N. Orhell said it would-b"e ; rather a big undertaking. The Government, at any rate, were half-hearted in the business.

Mr., John Talbot said the big problem was to'find'some way pf taking charge of domestics arriving New Zealand;. Mr" Sedgewick'' would be the tman to communicate with in the matter.

MrV.Orbell Wentr on/.to/sijy that Mr Sedgewick had told him that there were any amount of young females who could be got at Home and would be quite willing, to come out. IVIr J. Talbot said that the question was .whether the people here in New Zealand . wjiuld - pay the': passages out and take I 'the risk. If they, were"looking to the Government to do anything in the matter they were, leaning on a broken Teed. -■•■■■■ ,\. ,s.L :. -'■.<.'•.■'.•-■:•

Mr C. N. Orbell said that the Government were afraid- to- tackle the ques4 tion. They were afraid of losing their positions.;' If the -UnioiV/were,. strong r in the. Dominion, the Government' would be made to take up this matter of domestic help. The Union would make itself felt, if it was strong. Mr W. J. Drinnan said that, -':pf course, Mr Sedgewick had said that there must be some guarantee .before • domestics came out. The boys here are under the Government's control. If the Union brought girls oiit they would not be obliged to take domestic work; thev could' go to anything they chose. Mr Orhell said that it had been suggested that the girls should be apprenticed in the same way as a boy to a trade. The question was hero allowed to drop, and it will be discussed later and will probably figure as a remit to the Dominion Conference.