CORRESPONDENCE.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXXXIV, Issue 12793, 11 June 1909, Page 7

CORRESPONDENCE.

Domestic Servants,

TO THE EDITOR.

i. Sir,— Speaking at a meeting of the Auckland Trades and Labour Council, Mr Rossiter said, "He understood that next Sbssiou a very strong effort would be made .to induce the Government to bring out domestic servants to New Zealand," and he further said, "Lot the wealthy eiasre.-, ii" they want luxuiies, pay for t «.**-. Now, sir, this is the bpeccii of a vc.y ignorant, one-aided man, for it int ti.o wealthy classes who are crying out for domestic helps, but the poor, hard-working wives of men of very moderate means, also cleigymeu'B wives, who arc expected to give a great deal of their time to their husbands' congregations, aud who are nearly worked to death trying to do thenduty to tneir households and their husbands' people — a very hard life indeed ; a hard lite with help, but without help slavery. There are hundreds in this country who are labouring under similar difficulties. Instead of trying to stop the introduction of domestic help, we ought to do our best to get suitable useful girls out. They should not be taken promibcuouisly, but from tlie respectable working class or small farmers' daughters. Bring out 200 at first, and when they are all placed in situations, then biing out more ii' they are required. But perhaps by that time some of our own girls will have come to their senses, and we will not require to import any more. The women, more especially the mothers of New Zealand, have the most right to have a say in the question. What do the generality of men know or care how the work is done, or who does it, so long as they find their dinners i ready for them when they come home? One is constantly hearing of women breaking down from overwork, simply because they can't get help. I don't make any apology for the length of this letter, for I am sure, sir, you and all of us are deeply interested in this question. I think the government would do a wise thing to send home a really good sensible woman to select the girls, one who knows our requirements, and have them put under a suitable matron to bring out. — I am, etc., INDIGNANT MOTHER.

P.S. — I may say that there is a petition to the Government on the above subject lying at the Borough offices, with very few signatures at present. It may be that very few people know that it is there ; surely everybody who takes an interest in the question could find a few minutes to spare in some part of the day to put their names to this petition.