"NEXT, PLEASE!"

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1049, 11 February 1911, Page 3

"NEXT, PLEASE!"

HAIRDRESSING SALOON BY-LAWS. SOME DRASTIC .PROPOSALS.. In the draft of tho proposed City Bylaws, drawn up by a sub-committee set up for that purpose, and presented to tho City Council on. "evening, were several dealing with tho conduct of hairdressing and shaving saloons in tho city. The chief provisions.- are as follow:— Every hairdresser's saloon shall havo a llcor constructed of materials that can be easily cleansed. Where wooden lloors are provided, tho same shall bo covered with linoleum. No spittoon shall bo used or placed for uso in any saloon. All tables, shelves, and fittings on which shaving and hairdressing cutlery and other appliances arc kept shall bo of glass (preferably),, or of marble, slate, or well-seasoned hard and polished wood, and shall bo constructed without mouldings or crevices. AVhcuever possible all neck towelettea and headrests coverings shall bo of paper, and each such towelctto and strip of head-rest coverings shall be used for one customer only. Tho only soap used shall .bo liquid or powdered soap or shaving cream. Razors shall bo wiped on paper only. Tho samo paper shall not bo used for nioro than ono customer. No sponge of any kind whatsoever shall bo used or bo permitted to remain in any saloon except private sponges owned by and used solely for single customers. No liquid or powder shall bo applied in any way except by means of a spray of approved character, or clean towel. No alum, crystals, or blocks shall be used as styptic's unless washed after each application.^

All hair brushes and combs used shall bo thoroughly cleaned, and all brushes and combs shall bo steeped daily except on Sundays and holidays for a period of not less than seven minutes in a disinfecting solution. No machino brushes or rotary brushes shall bo used in any saloon.

Every person engaged in hairdressing saloons shall wear whito or other approved coats and washable materials, which shall bo washed at least once a week, and oftcner if necessary. Every attendant shall wash his hands after attending to any customer and before attending to another. . • • The proposed by-laws were submitted to a mid-city hairdresser yesterday by a Dominion- representative. With regard to the by-law'to tho effect that all premises shall form part of a good and substantial building, he said that what was a "good and substantial building" would, he supposed, largely be a matter of opinion. "If such premises aro not fit and proper'now, why woro they not condemned beforo, seeing that tho council, in conjunction with the Health authorities, havo such powers? On the whole, hairdressers' premises in Wellington aro contained in a very good class of building. Tho by-law referring to linoleum covers for wooden floors seems superfluous. For decency's sake they aro so covered now." ".No spittoons?" ejaculated the hairdresser. " "Well, some prefer them to having.! customers, spitting about .the floor. Personally I have none with my class of trade, .buo I .can' imagine saloons in which they would bo regard--ed as a sanitary necessity. The provision proposed for proper drainage is a good one. Tho by-law about fittings is all very well, but the. materials provided arc thoso in general adoption, barring tho polished hardwood. : "Simply absurd!" was tho comment .in'regard tß' , th'6"""bjila*''- that , there should bo a cabinet for customers' own mugs and brushes, with a separate door and lock for each customer.

"As to an . assistant washing his hands after attending to any customer,'-' said the business man inter,viowed, in conclusion, '.'well, I pity tho assistant in winter time. Why, his 'hands would never bo dry, and they would bo cracked and chapped in no time.' Then look at tho waste- of time in rush hours—it is quite impracticable. Anyhow, every assistant keeps his hands clean. It would kill business if they \\;erb not."