DOMESTIC SERVANTS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 79, Issue 107, 7 May 1936, Page 9

DOMESTIC SERVANTS

DECIDE TO FORM UNION MEETING AT CHRISTCHURCH L Per Press Association. ] CHRISTCHURCH, May 6. Over 100 domestic servants who met at the Trades Hall last night unanimously decided to form a South Island Industrial Union of Workers. Provisional executive officers were appointed to apply for registration and to draft claims for an award. Mrj J. Roberts, secretary of the New Zealand Clothing Trades Federation, presided. “If there are two groups of workers in New Zealand to-day who are suffering under long hours and low wages,” said Mr. Roberts, “they are tire farm labourers and domestic servants. Under favourable legislation a enhance of improving their lot is at hand.’’ Mr. Roberts added that an attempt to form a union had failed in 1907 through the introduction of legislation to prevent domestic workers approaching the Arbitration Court for an award on the ground that they were not employed in an industry trading for profit. The new Government, however, had promised to amend the legislation, and workers would be able to gain an award that had been denied them for so long. Mr. R. Brooks, secretary of the Hotel and Restaurant Workers’ Union, suggested the formation of a South Island Union as the best means of organising the workers. The North Island would probably follow the lead, and ultimately the two bodies could be mergll into a national organisation. “During the depression,” Mr. Brooks said, “many domestic servants were forced to put up with terrible conditions. They were paid wages that were described as being better bhan nothing. Often their rooms were not fit for a dog to live in. This was the treatment they received from the employers, who travelled about the country, staying at expensive hotels where the tariff was 25s per day.