"WASHERS AND MANGLERS" BILL.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XIII, Issue 4210, 5 September 1892, Page 3

"WASHERS AND MANGLERS" BILL.

A Burlesque.

A Bill entitled "An Act to regulate the business of Washerwomen and Manglers" has heon brought forward in tbo House by Mr Bnckland,

printed " By Authority" and circulated. We have received a copy of the Bill, which if it passes both branches of tho Legislature,will corao into force

on the Ist January, 1803. After the Interpretation clauses come: 3. No female whosoever shall nxerdso or curry on tho taido of washerwoman or mangier unless she shall be duly licensed in manner hereinafter provided. Every female offending against this provision shall for ovety such oU'once bo liablo to a penalty of not less than one shilling nor more than one hundred pounds, 4, Any fcinalo desirousofobtaining a washerwoman's or nmngler's license under this Act shall lodge with the Minister for Public Works, at Wellington, a notice in writing to .that effect, and stating in such notice her true name and place of business, and shall also at the samo time deliver with such notice a certificate of good character signed by at least four Justices of the Pence and one policeman,

5. On reenpt of any such notice the Minister for Public Works shall fortliiwith inspect, the premises of the said ; and he may cither refuse the FBi'd license or grant it, according as in his wisdom and experience ho sees fit. 6. Washerwomen and manglers' licenses 6hall be only of one sort, and tlio feo to bo paid shall lo 5s per annum,

7. Every female to whom any such license as aforesaid shall be i.'sucd Bkall cause to be written, painted or printed in largo Komnn letters of nl least two feet in depth, upon the most conspicuous end or side of her pluco of business, " Licensed washerwoman" or " Licensed mangier," as the case may bo. Any female committing a breach of this section shall be liable to a penalty of at least fifty pounds. 8. Any person desirous of sending a "wash" or "mangle" to any washerwoman or mangier shall do the following things, to wit ; (a) First of all, mark or brand the same with his or her registered mark or brand, such marks or Jfc brands to liaro been first duly registered with the nearest Eegistrar of Stock-brands, who is entitled to demand a fee of Ds for each such registration; (b) Make out a full and complete list in writing of all the articles comprised in the same, setting out where such articles were purohaßed or manufactured, and the full present cash-value / of each article in detail: (c) The before-mentioned list shall be mado out in triplicate, and bo signed by both tbo parties sending the "wash" or "mangle," and tho washerwoman or mangier, as the case may bo: (i) Ono copy of such list shall be deposited with the Clerk of the nearest Resident Magistrate's Court, one copy shall be forwarded to the Auditor-General and one to the Minister for Public Works. Any person desirous of perusing any such list may do tho samo in busiJf ness hours on payment of a fee ™ of one shilling. Any person offending against any of the provisions of this section shall be liable to a penalty of five pounds for each offence, 9. In tho event of a " wash " or "mangle" being returned, and the articles sent back not agreeing or tallying with tho afore-mentioned list, notice shall be at once given to the Auditor-General, who shall personally inspect the said returned " wash" or " mangle," comparing the Same with his deposited list, when ho shall report to tho Minister for Public Works who may compel the washerwoman or mangier to forthwith make good to the sender of ouch "wash " or " mangle " the present worth of the missing articles as set forth in such list or default, commit the said washerwoman or mangier to the nearest gaol for contempt of ministerial authority, 10. In the event of any " wash "

or " manglo" being returned, and Jho sender of the samo not being satisJlfed with tho renovation, improvement, or restoration of it, ho may forthwith lodge a complaint to that effect with the Minister of Labour, who shall, immediately on the receipt of the same, inspect the said " wash" or" manglp," and may order tlio satno, if he so pleases, to be rwenovated, re-improved, or re-restored at the sole expense of tho washerwoman or mangier. The Minister's decision in all cases to bo final, 11. If any suddon dispute should arise at any timo hetweon any washerwoman or mangier and any other person the same shall he at once referred to the Minister of Labour, who is hereby empowered to act as sole conciliator between the parties. 12. The place for business of every Washerwoman or mangier duly licensed under this Act shall be subject to inspection by an officer appointed by the Governor in Council under this Act ; and any washerwoman or mangier refusing to submit her establishment to such inspection shall be Subject to a penalty of not less than ono pound for each and every such offence. 13. The Auditor-General shall propare a return in each financial year from all lists deposited with him, setting forth the names of all washers and manglers and the amount ot

washing and mangling in detail done by each. Such return to be laid on ? the table of the House within the first ten days of the opening of Parliament in oacb year. M. No male, other than a manglctiil'Dei'i shall, on any pretence whatever, bo allowed to work about any washerwoman's or tnangler's place of business, The penally for the breach of this clause is imprisonment for six months. 15. No washerwoman or mangier sball work for a longer period than seventy-two hours in any ono weeh. 16, All fees and penalties paid or recoverable under this Act shall bo paid into and form part of the ConaSidated Fund.