THE DOMESTIC SERVICE REPORT.

[It will interest our readers to know that Miss Ann Pope, the writer of this article, worked as a cook for several years and writes out of experience which she was wise enough to make her own.— ED. Spectator.] THE Committee appointed to inquire into the present conditions as to the supply of female domestic servants has done its work well and conscientiously. No effort has been spared to discover the reasons for the shortage and to recommend alleviations. The Report is an able and honest attempt to deal with the results of painstaking investigation. It will not, of course, please, everyone, but that was to be expected. The matter bristles with difficulties.

The evidence as to the causes of the shortage fell under certain well-defined headings :— (a) Necessity of and lack of facilities for training., (b) Question of status.

(c) Psychological aspects.

(d) Hours and conditions of employment.

(e) Defects of the present system of distribution.

It appears that the real hardships resulting from the ' present position chiefly affect small households, and that there is comparatively little difficulty, even now, in obtaining domestic workers for big private establishments maintaining a large staff. The Committee recognizes that "the intimate relationship existing between domestic workers and their employers is the crux both of the happiness and unhappiness of domestic service," but with all due deference to its collective wisdom, surely the training of the mistress seems to be too cursorily treated.

No mention is made of the change in the equipment and habits of the mistress a modern servant is called upon to serve. Yet surely this is the fundamental cause of satisfaction or dissatisfaction ? So much so that even in the present shortage good mistresses can generally find and keep good servants. May it not be possible that we get the servants we deserve ? It is no uncommon thing to hear the remark, "Mistresses are not what they were."

Again, no mention is made of the alteration in social customs, yet these affect the "one or two servant house- hold" pretty considerably. It is easy to scoff at un- pleasing statements, but the fact remains indisputable that late dinners do break into the single servant's well- earned leisure, and add considerably to her work unless skilfully ordered. It is quite easy for anyone experienced in organizing, catering and cooking to order a little dinner that will give the minimum of trouble in preparation, clearing away and washing up. Even the hour at .ythich it is served is important ; six or eight o'cloek gives a servant more leisure than seven o'clock. The last hour makes work seem as if it were never done. But an incompetent mistress can give endless, unnecessary work. To manage a small household successfully a mistress needs training as well as a sympathetic disposition.

Therefore, it is a matter for regret that the Committee does not definitely recommend the training in domestic arts and crafts of all girls from twelve to fourteen and upwards, irrespective of their social position. It is true the recommendation is contained in the body of the Report, but as it is not included in the suinmary it might easily be overlooked. Knowledge is not only power ; it often carries with it peace of mind. A young married Woman said the other day : "I don't want either to over- Work or to underwork my servants, but I don't know how long they ought to take to do things.". Imagine any business being started in corresponding ignorance. This sensible girl is now attending a domestic economy school in order to remedy the defect of an otherwise blameless education.

Economic conditions also play their part in the shortage. Owing to the higher wages asked one servant frequently has to do the work of two ; consequently, conditions are often considerably harder to-day instead of easier. It is the slavery they have witnessed in small households that causes social workers and elementary school teachers to desire other - than domestic employment for their brightest and best girls. But domestic work properly organized and skilfully performed need not be drudgery. The Committee recommend the adoption of labour- saving appliances, and to use these successfully a more highly educated house assistant is desirable. Some of these material aids are expensive, and some of the old houses difficult to work, but brains and imagination can do much in the way of labour-saving without mechanical aids, some of which are more suited to large than small establishments. The study of labour-saving appliances is in itself an occupation requiring considerable intelli- gence. If the mistress be ignorant or uninterested even the best trained maid will grow careless or go elsewhere, where her efforts are appreciated.

Much stress is laid on training, but it must be remem- bered that technical knowledge is not the only requisite ; character plays an equally important part in the equip- ment of a domestic servant, and a girl's home-life as a little child and young girl affects her future career what- ever employment she may choose as a wage-earning occupation. If employers were able and willing to train girls of fourteen, and make them happy, they ought to be able to obtain their services at a lower wage. This might be possible if the Committee's recommendations were carried into effect. It is suggested that examinations should be held and diplomas given for efficiency whether a girl be trained privately or in a school. This plan would stimulate a girl's ambition, and help to raise the standard of service.

After much careful investigation and consideration of evidence the Committee does not consider that the Unem- ployment Insurance is to any extent responsible for the servant shortage ; but in view of the necessity for obliterating artificial distinctions between domestic servants and other workers it recommends that women employed in private service should not be excluded from its' advantages unless some alternative scheme better suited to their particular needs be provided. As an alternative it suggests pensions at fifty-five or a dowry on marriage.

Some wise things are said about "references." It is, of course, a scandal that a girl's future should be at the mercy of an unjust or spiteful mistress ; but there is another side to the question that is not mentioned. Mistresses can be badly let dOwn by references that are flattering but untrue. It is in this matter of" references" that the Committee consider a good registry an invaluable benefit to both mistress and maid.

The weakness of the report consists in the scant con- sideration given to the part the mistress plays in the . household. Perhaps this is inevitable in a Committee drawn entirely from the employer class. The recommendation

" that special Sub-Committees be established by the Local Employment Committees attached to Employment Exchanges to consider the problems in connexion with domestic work and to endeavour to form local associations of employers and employees to agree upon conditions in their area"

seems to show that the limitation was felt to be a draw- back to the full elucidation of the situation. As Mr. E. V. Lucas says in London Lavender :— "If to know all is to understand all, a system of interchange of employment and positions carried out fully would get into every section of society an understanding of the others. If the lady took a turn in the kitchen she would understand her cook's diffi- culties, while the cook in the dining-room would know for the first time what it felt like when the dishes were cold, underdone, or late. A bond would thus grow . . . . and so on right through society, until we all knew."

The Report should be bought and studied by everyone interested in the servant question. ANN POPE.