42. Sir HENRY DALZIELasked the President of the Board of Trade whether be can see his way to take such steps as may be necessary to enable domestic servants to obtain situations through Labour Exchanges?
Mr. ROBERTSONManagers of Labour Exchanges have been instructed from the outset not accept notifications of vacancies for resident domestic servants in private houses. Recently the juvenile departments of a limited number of Exchanges have been allowed, on the advice and subject to the supervision of juvenile advisory committees, or in co-operation with education authorities exercising powers under the Choice of Employment Act, to deal with vacancies of this nature in the case of boys and girls under seventeen. Except to this extent and in this direction I do not, as at present advised, think it would be desirable to alter the general instructions. Vacancies for service in hotels and business houses are, of course, dealt with by the Exchanges.
Sir H. DALZIELIs the hon. Gentleman aware that some Exchanges offer facilities for domestic servants to obtain situations at large hotels and at the same time refuse to assist them in getting them in private houses?
Mr. ROBERTSONThat is so, and it is done for general reasons, of which the right hon. Gentleman is aware.
§ Mr. R. HARCOURTWhat difference in principle is there between juveniles in private houses and adults?
Mr. ROBERTSONJuveniles are kept under very careful supervision. With regard to adults, the policy of the Board from the start has been not to compete with the large number of registry offices.
Sir H. DALZIELIs not the hon. Member confusing the issue by introducing the question of juveniles? We are dealing with adults who wish to get into private employment, which, in my opinion, is better than hotel service, yet the local Exchanges offer them no facilities, but recommend them to go into large hotels. Is it not the fact that the officials in many districts desire to arrange for private service?
Mr. ROBERTSONI quite understood the right hon. Gentleman's question. I mentioned the case of the juveniles in order to show that we had all the facts before us and so that it should not be supposed I was suppressing anything. There have been certain difficulties in regard to the matter of domestic service, and as at present advised we do not propose to alter our policy.
§ Mr. WATTHas the attention of the Department been called to the exorbitant charges made by private registry agencies?