THE BARMAIDS.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1550, 20 September 1912, Page 5

THE BARMAIDS.

A PETITION TO THE PltlME UIMSTEIi. (Br Tclctraph.-Pross Association.) Auckland, September 1!) H is understood that at 11 vor.y largely* attended meeting of barmaids to-day, a resolution was carried nUirmiwr that a petition be forwarded to the-Prune Minister in the following terms:— "The incmori.il of the undersigned citizenesscs' of thoDominion of Now Zcalond, shovel h that, in view of the probability of legislation being introduced into Parliament at its present se>sion, seriously affecting rights tuid privileges of, some of the undersigned, and still more seriously tha livelihood of some of them, your petitioner^' now respectfully'submit that if such legislation is introduced a strong effort should be made either entirely to prevent the injuries anticipated, or at any rate to modify results, thereof. Th'o legislation referred to is. in connection v.'ith a proposed amendment of Tart 2 of (lie licensing Amendment Act, 1910. That pari: of tile Act of 1910 has undoubtedly caused considerable' injury to many of your petitioners and persons similarly circumstanced. Many of your petitioners, thuugh not registered in accordance with the provisions of that Act. are now employed in various hotels lliroußhout tli« Dominion in positions annlagons to that of a barmaid within (lie meaning of the Act, and are, as voit %re aware,'lawfully so employed. Some of your petitioners suffered great hardships ill consequence of the passing of tlio' Act, owing to illness and other causes over which they had no control preventing them coining within the stringent provisions of the Act contained in Section 3G, Subsection 4, of that Aet. Though in some cases such analogous positions had been occupied by sueli persons fo.r many years previous lo the passing of that Act. Seeing that, some of our petitioners are earning their living in a perfectly legitimate manner, in all respects, and in an entirely lawful calling and employment, and seeing that the proposed legislation threatens to deprive tliem of tlioso means of living without any compensation, youi\ petitions most respectfully submit, their views to you in this manner, aiul most earnestly urge von, as head of the Legislature of this Dominion, to assist theni to retain tlioir rights and privileges. Wo would further respectfully [joint out to you that many of your petitioners are supporters, and sometimes sole supporters, of members of their family, and would be indeed hard put to it to obtain any, substituted employment if prevented from following their pre-ent and customary avocation. We trust that wo may'look to you, as head of the Legisture, to safeguard our rights and privileges, and to avert dnngers now threatening us and those depending upon us." It is understood similar action will b» taken in other centres. (The 'Prime Minister (the Hon. TT. r*. Mnssey) introduced into the House of Representatives yesterday the liarmnids' Registration Bil'l. As is generally known now, a defect was very quickly discovered in the law making it. obligatory on licensees of hotels to employ only registered barmaids, liarmnids have been declared to be only Mich women as are employed in public bars, mid as. most hotel bars (ire private bars, (he law failed very largely in its object. The new Dill makes registration necessary fo l ' women employed in private bars, ami defines n nrivale bar as "any room, passage, or lobby in any, licensed premise? where tin. public may ente'' nivl ii"rch«su liquors, other than a public bar."