THE SERVANT QUESTION.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 8863, 22 July 1890, Page 3

THE SERVANT QUESTION.

TO THB EDITOH. Sib, —The domestio servant question, though not by any means a new topic, has, by the action taken lately by those who desire to improve the status of a large body of our wage-earning population, forced itself on the attention of the community at large. It is well to look at this social question as broadly as possible. It is questionable, in the first place, if " trades union " rules and arrangements will do in this case. Domestic service does not go on " all fours" with other trades, either in its character or in the preparation necessary to become Tproficient in the duties required. For a trade, be it wool factory, or clothing factory work, shoe or shirt making, a girl must learn her business baforo she can expect a fair wage. She bogies a tyro, and is paid accordingly; as her skill increases, so does her pay. For the work of a domestic servant there is no preliminary training in most cases. The party seeking such employment tabes everything in hand, and as a rale demands the wages of an experienced person. Naturally, when she is found incapable, there is friction; " notice "is given, and the maid stigmatises mistress and place as bad. Is such a result much to be wondered at ? Should there not be some training for the duties required in a house as well as for the work in a place of business ? It seems to be assumed that a capacity for household work, as for nursing, comes naturally to every woman. The fallacy in regard to the latter has been amply demonstrated, and the remedy provided: can it not be also in the former ?

Much has been heard lately of manual training for boys. Is such impossible for girls? Domestic economy is taught in our schools to the girls, theoretically, but if no practical demonstrations are given the instruction falls short of its aim. Is it possible on two afternoons in the week to give domestic training to the girls in the primary schools ? Take them in classes, or a manageable section of a class, at a time. Make each girl bring some article to be cleaned and brightened—a pot, a pot lid, a rusty knife, or poker. All these articles require to be cleaned in different ways and with different materials. Let the girls be instructed in the material and method of doing this. The schoolroom grate could bo blackleaded, the schoolroom floor) swept (corners included, tea leaves or damp grass strewed over it to " lay the dust"); dusted afterward, dado ledges, desk, legs, &o.; tho desks and forms scrubbed, and the little workers' pinafores washed and ironed. Now and then scones or tea cakes could be baked as a treat. There is material for a dozen lessons. And little prizes might be given at a competition in work when all these things were thoroughly learnt. Such practioal instruction would be of immense advantage as a beginning, and perhaps it would ba possible to add & domestic training department to our primary school system to which girls would go for three or cix months after they had passed the Sixth Standard, or sooner if their parents desired. There the girls would learn washing, clear starching, ironing, plain cooking, and the plan and method of going through a week's domestic routine of work in an ordinary middle class family. Girls trained in this way would be gladly engaged and valued as domestic helps; they would, without any unusual effort, win the esteem of their employers, which in so many cases under present circumstances cannot be accorded.

The Education Board could doubtless find some women thoroughly qualified to give such instruction at no great additional outlay, and there are many large-hearted practical women ia Dunedin interested in this matter who would give their help as a committee to carry out such aplau. Much has been made of certain cases of hardship. No doubt such exist; but such extraordinary and exceptional arrangements cannot be the rule, and girls have the remedy in their own haeds, and do not enruple to put it in force. As a rule, every girl has her evening out once a week, aud if not every Sunday afternoon and evening, at least every other Sunday. It is quite impossible to regulate a household on factory lines; but a girl who is active and knows how j to plan her work has her hours of leisure and time to rest. Most certainly the variety of house duties, the experience gained in various ways by a life iv a -well-ordered family, is a better preparation for homes of their own than girls can possibly gain in a factory life of whatever kind—not to speak of the better health, condition, and the possibility of banking a portion of their wages for further requirements.—l am, ka , July 21. X.

TO THE EDITOR. Sin,—l should liko to add my experience of domestic servants to that of" Mistress" of Saturday's Times (July 19th). I have kept house | for nearly 12 years, and I daresay have had | quite 20 general servants in that time, most of j them in the colony. ' The best and most compe- ! tent one I ever had was c, woman older thau myself. She received I2b 6i per week, and we had a small house, usually kept a cow, but had no very youug children. Thi3 servant v/as a splendid cook —if you could overlook her rather dirty hands—byt oa the first, and very slight provocation, gavo me notice that she wished to leave. , I have scarcely ever received anything but ingratitude at their hands, and hava been been robbed dreadfully. I am sura there are some very badq unkind mistresscQ in and about Dunediu, who treat'their'girls little better than iho dust beneath their feet. I suppose these are the one 3 the D.S.U. are going to improve, if possible I wish some more mistresses would take up this matter, and give their experiences and opinions ; the servants are having it too much their own way in the papers.

As regards work making them poor in health, that is nearly all bosh. I for one have known them to go two or three days with hardly anything to eat before going to a ball, in order to look white in the face and appear with a slender waist, My girls always have precisely the same sort of food as ourselves, and 'jt is their own fault if they let it gei cold before taking it. They also'have every other" Sunday out after dinner is past,to c i.n fay Win the evening, one evening in the week, and sometime? W3 live iv the country, when they ara allowed a wholo day off in the month as well for any shopping they require to do. I am sure I think this good enough, but the more kindly I have treated my young girls the worse they seem to treat me. Respecting followers, it is quite right a young girl should have her sweetheart, and that ha be allovyed to come and Bee her—if one is all she needs. My knowledge tells me very different.

Trusting my letter will not take up too much of your valuable papey.— l am, im., July 21. Another Misthess.