DEARTH OF DOMESTICS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2455, 20 March 1909, Page 2

DEARTH OF DOMESTICS.

FREE IMMIGRATION WANTED.

The Mayoress (Mrs. W. D, Lysnar) called ; a meeting of . ladies at the Borough Council Chambers yesterday afternoon ,to discuss the . difficulty of obtaining domestic help. A copy of a resolution carried in Christchurch, by a meeting of. ladies, over which Mrs. Allison (the Christchurch Mayoress) had presided, was read. This motion suggested that Parliament should grant free passages to domestic helps. About twelve ladies were present. The Mayoress said tiwt help was bad ly needed and the suggestion from Christchurch should be supported. She thought that if girls were called “domestic helps” when engaged a better class of servant could be obtained. Themethod of obtaining suitable immigrants was discussed at length. Mrs Scott said that Lady Aberdeen took an interest in the servant-girl question at- Home, and she was sure that if Lady Aberdeen was applied to, a good class of servant would be sent out to New Zealand. The main difficulty in obtaining help was because servants were asked to be cook, laundress, parlormaid, and kitchen maid in one. When girls were engaged at Home they should have their duties told them before they were engaged. It was decided to support the suggestion that the Government should grant free passages to girls and women‘from the United -Kingdom who were suitable for domestic help. Mrs Scott moved that a petition be drawn up and circulated in the district asking Parliament to give effect to the suggestion. ' The motion was carried and the meeting closed.