The Barmaid's Grievance.

Te Aroha News, Volume II, Issue 68, 20 September 1884, Page 4

The Barmaid's Grievance.

The British barmaid has a grievance, and a very just one it is, if she does not exaggerate matters. She does not care much about the franchise, and is by no means disposed to court martyrdom in that connection by refusing to pay taxes. What she uplifts her voice against is "white slavery"— the inordinately long hours of toil demanded of her by her employers. One of these fair sirens atWidnes affirms that she and her colleagues begin their avocations at 6a. m, and do not leave off until 11 p.m., the only scrap of leisure being when they are dressing for the evening campaign against bibulous sinners. We should imagine that this must be an altogether exceptional instance, but there is no question that both barmaids proper and the sprightly attendants at restaurants are much "put upon" in the length oi time for which they are kept at work. Nor is their toil of the light nature which the public suppose. Itoftenin> volvesstandingfor several hours at a stretch, and whenever there is a rush of business the hands, eyes, and wits have to work at express speed, or customers will grumble. In addition to these physical and mental trials, the barmaid always carries in her mind the unpleasant consciousness that " who breaks, pays." If in her hurry she upsets a glass or commits any other act of breakage, she is placed under stoppages, and at the end of an unlucky week she finds a big hole made in her not too lavish earnings. She does not, however, make much complaint on that score, but she is very decidedly of opinion that her life would be sweeter if it were more tempered with leisure. — " Globe."