BARMAIDS' HOURS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 8674, 14 July 1906, Page 4

BARMAIDS' HOURS.

AUTHORITIES SAY THEY ARE INDETERMINABLE. Figuratively-speaking, the Christchurch Labour Bureau authorities and the Police Department engaged in a gam© of battledore and shuttleocck yesterday regarding their responsibility •to regulate the working hours of barmaids. "We have nothing whatever to do with barmaids' hours," eaid Mr'J. Shanahan, Inspector of Factories, when approached by a "Star" representative. He produced a copy of the Shops and Offices Act, and pointed out that the only clause relating to the employment of barmaids stipulated simply that they should have a. half-holiday from the hour of 1 p.m. on one working day of the week. "" Supposing that a barmaid has to work sixteen hours a day then," asked the reporter. " can you do nothing in the matter P" "No," replied Mr Slianahan, "hut that would be regulated by the police under the Alcoholic Liquors Sale Control Act." Inquiries concerning the powers of the police elicited the fact that the matter was entirely out of their hands, except for a section providing that to employ a barmaid after 11 p.m. would be a breach of the Act. Inquiries concerning the barmaids' hours had, consequently, to come to a full 6top. The labour office was persuaded that the police could deal with the matter, and the police were almost as emphatic in the oppcsite direction. Both agreed, however, that to have no statutory control provided might he reaarded as a grave omission.