THE ELUSIVE SLAVEY.

Timaru Herald, Volume XIIC, Issue 13842, 2 March 1909, Page 4

THE ELUSIVE SLAVEY.

Our. issue of Friday contained a : study ill contrasts. In the far north' was heard the cry of the unemployed!'; ill the middle south the wail ofthe ovei'-' worked housewife. , We in common with many others who had watched the "dumping," as our- American cousins expressively have- it,' week after week, of! loads upon loads of people from the Old Land, 'had come to the conclusion that New Zealand: was overmanned. This 'may he so, but the wail from Christchurchshows us that it is. not over-woniaiied. The domestic help! J list at present "this attractive variety of the human form divine must be: worth, her weight in gold. Our advertising columns day by day, and our telegrams, now and then, show us

that she is more; to be courted than the-;richest heiress in the land.. The Christehurch meeting' ojf distracted, hcuScAnves''shewed that Nevr; Zealand girls trained in the mystic school of domestic instruction, light shy of the washboard and; the pail; prefer,.; after they have been taught how-to toss apancake correctly and scramble urieggj to see the "'heels go round in' a,factory, or. display to others of. their ..sex . the latest creation in French toques in a, draper's, shop.. In this r w'c think the colonial girl is'to. a-certain .degree sensible. "Versed in domestic economy, ! as such. an excellent authority as \ Miss • Colbornc ,Vccl .informs 'us, the New Zealand- girl has a> firm foot, on the ladder which leads to matrimony, then passes on 'to a sphere of activity that will fit her to knit her future, children's socks, or make their smocks. Thus when bur - girls/take our , boys..' ".for better.':'or.-for. ..worsej" : thdy arc fully equipped as the veryhandiest •■ thing to ' have about the' house. ! " ; The colonial "lady of the house" -has,, .therefore, to fall back upon the and the maxim " New Zealand for New Zealanders'' does not hold good. To aid iu importing Scotch apd Irish girls , (who arc deemed to-be .bettor!than the alternative Scandinavian), th 6; women of Christchurch, finding that'!'the pow eri'ul Shecpowners' Union Vean clo but little to help them, and that, captains oi Home-going steamers arc bashfid when approaching comely young women passengers, .uc moving the highest court m tho hind to help them. • We look forward_to a merry time in Parliament when the petition for the free immigration ut single "omen as . domestns comes before members. GomI liient should be racy and tree, and m : . the winnowing process ol free speech and fearlessness of libel, the housewife may learn the lcason why the colonial girl, preicjs the school "of domestic instruction to the villa or ' mansion as the plate to become acquainted with the science and practice of all that makes the domestic hearth the scone' of contentment and happiness.