ARE AT FAULT?

Star (Christchurch), Issue 12687, 8 July 1919, Page 7

ARE AT FAULT?

Why is it so difficult nowadays to get and keep servants? One reason is, of course, that the demand exceeds tho supply; but .there is a reason other than that-

Since I have been home from France ■I have been to stay in several friends’ houses, both in town and in the country, and now I think I know what the trouble is. I have kept my eyes and cars open and have come to the conclusion that in nine cases out of ten it is the fault of the mistress when things' go hadly. 1 have lately been iu one house where there has never been any trouble or discontent, cither before the war or since. I have been iu another where there never has been contentment and never will be The servants never cease from squabbling-,with each other and • with/their mistress, and no one looks: happy or does anything willingly. It ;s not a> quqstion of wages, basemen flights of stairs, or looking after naughty. chdldren. In both these houses wages and conditions are approximately the same. There is more in it than that. The important thing is tho way the mistress treats 'them. It is not so much the orders that arc giveif, as the way in which they are given. ‘

In four years in France I have dealt with all binds of men and learned to have a deeper insight, into their character than I ever had before. I have known officers and N.C.O.’s who could do anything with their men, and I have known others who could do nothing with them. ■ ■ , /

What I believe is wanted is a little more tact and consideration on the part of mistresses. The- war has made many of us hasty and ill-tempered. Mary Jones is only human, and I believe that if she is treated fairly she is only too willing to do what is asked of her. —By an Officer,., in the “ Daily Mail. ’ ’

, Mr Frank Albert Sheat lias been elected to represent the original West Eyreton lload district on tho Waimak-ariri-Ashley IVa ter Supply Board', Oxford,