From "The Home Counsellor" Odhams Press. About 1930

DUTIES OF A GENERAL SERVANT I know that it is impossible for a mistress and servant to think beforehand of all the tasks that a servant has to carry out. If you are engaging a general, there is little that will fall outside her ordinary duties, but if you want to have the legal right to require her to bath little George and put him to bed when you and Mr. Smith go to the cinema, or to make her take the dogs for a walk, or weed the garden, you must mention these things when you engage her. I do not say that even if you do not mention them, she may not be perfectly prepared to do what you ask her, but it is not part of a general's duties to do any of these acts, and if she refuses you will have no legitimate grounds at all for complaint.

When a servant has to travel a considerable distance to get to her new" place" it is not unusual for the mistress to pay her fare, but there is no legal obligation to do this.

A servant must wear a cap or uniform if her mistress asks her to do so, even though nothing was said about it at the time she was engaged, but the point, I know, is a very delicate one and it will save much trouble if the matter is clearly laid down one way or the other when she comes to see you. When the mistress buys a uniform or cap for the servant, the servant must give these up when she leaves, unless some other arrangement is made.

It is generally the case that a servant is hired by the year, although the custom of calculating wages yearly and paying them monthly is not now so widespread as it was a few years ago. The yearly contract may be ended by either maid or mistress giving to the other a calendar month's notice at any time during the year, or by the mistress paying a calendar month's wages (not board wages) in lieu of notice.