FROM THE ARCHIVES:One of the unexpected consequences of the late 19th century Land War was a huge increase in untrained governesses, whose plight was explained in this editorial. -
JOE JOYCE
NOT LONG ago we published several letters on the subject, “What shall we do with our girls?” The topic is, unfortunately, in the nature of a “hardy annual”. Every year someone is struck with the distressing fact that the remuneration offered to governesses is often of the most exiguous description, and forthwith indites a letter to the Press on the niggardliness of the so-called “ladies” who offer these beggarly terms for the instruction of their children. But there is another side to the question. The reason why governesses are offered, and too often compelled to accept, for their services a sum so small that a self-respecting scullery-maid would turn up her nose at it is that the profession of governesses is overstocked. And why is it overstocked? Because unfortunately every woman who has had some sort of an education, but who has never been properly trained for a profession, thinks that she is qualified to teach. People will not put up nowadays with untrained nurses, or typewriters, or clerks... a sound training in some branch of art or industry or commerce is to-day a sine qua non. Owing to the Land War, and its legislative consequences, which impoverished so many gentle families, Ireland has perhaps more than her fair share of women dependent upon their own exertions for a livelihood. Consequently there was a large field for the operations of the Irish Central Bureau for the Employment of Women, which was started some two years ago, and to whose progress we have already referred on several occasions.
Great as is the supply of female labour in Ireland, it will surprise people to learn that the demand is even greater-the demand, that is to say, for trained workers. As Lady Dudley observes in the letter which we publish to-day, “the Committee have constantly been unable to fill the more advantageous posts placed at their disposal, owing to the dearth of properly qualified candidates among the very numerous applicants for employment registered in the books of the Bureau. The great majority of these applicants possess no sort of training, and are consequently only qualified to accept posts for which no special training is needed. For such posts salaries of from £12 to £16 a year only are obtainable, without hope of material increase.” Some of the applicants are unwilling to be trained, and on these we need not waste our pity. Others are willing enough, but are unable to raise the money necessary to pay the cost of training. For their benefit a Loan Fund has been started to defray the cost of training. The Committee of the Special Training Fund of the Irish Distressed Ladies’ Society have co-operated in this work, with the result that nineteen grants varying from £10 to £30 have already been made.
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