IMPORTED SERVANTS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 1971, 5 January 1907, Page 3

IMPORTED SERVANTS.

Some Hawke’s Bay- ladies have been so distressed over tlieir inability to obtain “helps,” says the NonZealand Times, that they got into touch with the British Women's Immigration Association, and through its agency and the energy of Miss Black, some fifteen young women I arrived by the Gothic in Wellington on Tuesday morning from England. Those girls could be distinguished amongst the swarm of passengers by little knots of purple ribbon worn on the breast, tlie insignia of the Women’s Immigration Association. Miss Blank, .when questioned by a Times reporter, stated that' these girls had, at some trouble, been induced to come to New Zealand for a syndicate of ladies at Napier; there were none on hoard “who had not been bespoken.” They were a good class, mostly from country parts In England, Scotland, and Ireland. There bad been the utmost difficulty ill getting them to come to New Zen- ■ land- —it is so far away from their homes and people. Of course, if they knew the conditions of life out hero many would be only too glad to come. She had been sent, in charge of the girls for Napier only, and later her sister was coming put with more. She did not hold out, much hope of any great number being induced to com-; to tlie colony. On the Gothic wore twenty-seven servant girls altogether—fifteen for Napier, six for Wellington, two for Greymouth, and one each for Auckland, New Plymouth, Lyttelton and Port Chalmers. The risk the syndicate takes in “importing” these girls is. it is understood, that they have no legal claim on a girl’s services finally length of time. A number of people visited the Gothic in the hope of “picking up « girl,” and all save one were disappointed.' The party went on to Napier bytrain.