GIRLS PREFER DOLES TO WORK.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LI, Issue 16719, 2 May 1925, Page 10

GIRLS PREFER DOLES TO WORK.

SO ASSERT LONDON HOUSE- . WIVES WHO ARE UNABLE TO OBTAIN HELP.

ENQUIRY IS URGED,

LONDON, March 7 —Great Britain’s surplus of women combined with the unemployment problems, there being approximately 300,000 women and girls out of .work, has brought about, a strange situation ill tire servant shortage, -widely experts for months 'have been endeavoring to straighten out..

Authorities disagree as to the cause of the scarcity. Some contend that a great many women who have been receiving unemployment doles from the Government prefer to exist as best they can on a few- shillings a week to working out; where they®arc virtually on duty all day long. Tlieir pay here averages from £4O to £BO a year, with board and room, but in many instances maid servants or general cooks in large households receive a good deal more than this. REWARD IS OFFERED.

The Loudon newspapers are filled daily with advertisements for cooks and maids of Various kinds, many 0.1 the housekeepers offering some sort of inducement to.attract the attention of the eligibles. One of those which appeared recently, read: “Servant, bonus —A £4 reward will be paid to anyone finding a really reliable cook-general. Apply Lady . ’ ’ “Wanted—A truthful, happy, willing girl, trained for general housework—if there is one.” MANY UNEMPLOYABLE.

The Government has under consideration an investigation of the system of doles which, it is contended in housewives’ circles, should lie tightened up a bit so that girls and ’women, and men too, would not be able to draw a. regular allowance from the state treasury unless they Were willing to work, and were compelled to show documents indicating that, they had actually sought a task of one kind or another. Incidentally it is related that twice as many young women as young men were sent to tho Overseas Dominions last year under the auspices of the Salvation .Army, which, in'the opinion of Commissioner Lamb, is “a matter for congratulation in view of the tragic okcfes of females over males in the British Isles.” , ,