DOMESTIC SERVICE.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 45, 30 March 1914, Page 4

DOMESTIC SERVICE.

For the past two years the Women 's Industrial Couneil has been conducting an enquiry into the problems of domestic service. The method employed con.* -sisted in sending out 10,000 5000 to mistresses and 5000 to servants. Based upon the replies, Miss C. V. Butler, author of "Social Conditions of Oxford,'' has written a report. It seems the replies of the maids were more satisfactory than those of the mistresses, being .more to the point and more dramatic in their presentation of the case. They ; indicate, for one thing, ; a desire for more definite "free times," and also a growing appreciation of the difficulties from the employers * point of view j likewise, an objection was expressed at. being addressed by their Christian names. Servants in Copenhagen desire to be known as assistants of various sorts, such as "house assistants' ' instead of housemaid, and house help instead of general, and they also object to being addressed by their Christian name while their sisters behind the counter a,re called "young ladies." The Copenhagen ; mistressesj it v seems, have received these suggestions favourably, and are prepared to address their -assistants as "Miss," and drop the more familiar stylo.. ,