IMPORTED DOMESTICS.

Colonist, Volume LIV, Issue 13567, 7 November 1912, Page 8

IMPORTED DOMESTICS.

THE GTRLS REVOLT

There is a great deal of dissatisfaction amongst the latest party of domestic helps brought from England by the Canterbury syndicate of ladies which was established some time ago to try to solve tho problem of meeting tho requirements of domestic service. Some of the girls are in open revolt, declaring that they will not go to situations that have been allotted to them. Each of the girls was requested to sign a document containing the Following; rules —

(1) Each maid, promises-to work for tho syndicate for twelve months after arrival in Christchurch.

(2) Any maid breaking her yearly contract will be fined £2.

(3) Maids'paying their own faro will be held responsible for tho cost of their introduction, including £2 10s paid by the syndicate to tho British Women's Emigration Association, if they take situations outside tho syndicate.

(4) Every maid must bo given one month's notieo before changing her situation.

(5) Every maid must give written not!co to the secretary when leaving a

situation

((>) No maid may find a-new situation without the .secretary's permission.

(7) Each nia'id shall refund 16s. a month of her \vj;ges to defray her fare.

(8) The secretary must bo informed at oiic-e in case of illness, and then tho .syndicate will defray hospital expenses.

The principal grievance -entertained by the .girls is that they, by signing tho document, -have bound themselves to become the syndicate's slaves. They say that when they signet! they did not realise that they could be sent to any place at the pleasure of the syndicate and do.any form of domestic work the syndicate chooses to order them to .undertake. In other cases complaints aro made that the mistresses are- often from homo, and that it is unpleasant for tho girls to stay when the lady of the house is absent. Some of the girls have paid the fine of £2 in preference to staying at places controlled by member.-; of the syndicate. The girls say that they aio willing to carry out their contract to go into domestic service, but that they ought to be allowed to KuU-cfc the snorial branch of the. .service they tiro exyt'ctad to enter, and they wish to be relieved from the obligation fi" remaining for a yoar at any place the syndicate spends them to.