WOMEN AND WINE.

Auckland Star, Volume XLIII, Issue 148, 21 June 1912, Page 7

WOMEN AND WINE.

IS PRIVATE HOTEL BARS. AUCKLAND LADY'S ADVEKfTUKE. A DRAMATIC ACCUSATION. "The room was comfortably furnished, and a number of women were seated around small tables drinking," said a lady member of a deputation from the Associated Churches of Christ in the course of an impressive statement to Auckland members of Parliament yeeterday afternoon. The speaker was Mrs. A. H. Mason, an elderly lady, and at the request of the leader of the deputation she was explaining a scene she had witnessed, in support of a contention that some of the hotels in Auckland catered specially for drinking among women by setting apart special rooms for their use. The deputation was urging the abolition of private bars in hotels. "I was visiting in the suburbs one evening in connection with a case of sudden illness," continued Mrs. Mason, "when a few drops of spirits were ordered for a sick child. There was no one to go for it except a young girl, and I accompanied her to the nearest hotel', intending to wait outside. Thinking it better that I should ;go in myself, however, J did so, and upon knocking was directed into a room. It was furnished like a tea room, with snail tables, and several women were seated round drinking. At one of the tables a woman was sitting by herself, and as she was emptying the last of the contents of a large bottle of stout into a tumbler it was evident that she had drunk the whole bottle aerself. The women were all dressed in outdoor attire, with hats and coats on, as if they bad come there for the purpose. I couldin't say just how many were in the room, because I-was so shocked at the- sight. I nave .since been; told that the apartment into which 1 was shown is really the diningroom of the hotel, and that after dinner it is cleared out, while small tables are set around especially for the use of women. I have also been told that a daughter of the licensee looks after them, and that similar rooms are fitted up for women at one hotel in Queen-street and at another in Jvewton. There were young, middle-aged!, and elderly women in the room to "which I refer, and I could not help thinking that when the native women of this country are protected against the drink traffic, our fellow white women should also be protected. This occurred about 18 months or two years ago, and although I have watched the papers ever since, I have failed to see that any action has been taken to stop the TraetcheS practice. So, when the opportunity offered, I just felt that it was my duty to come and tell' you about it." (Hear, hear.) THE HOTEL NAMED. Mr. A. E. Glov-sr, M-P-, -when replying to the deputation a little later on, said he regretted to tear the. remarks made by Mrs. Mason, whose late husbaad had been a great friend of bis in the days gone by. Personally, he bad never seen any evidences of such practices in hotels during a residence of 55 years in the Dominion. "Kindly bring mc the name of that hotelkeeper," the speaker proceeded, "and I will go " Here Mrs. Mason rose and somewhat dramatically named the hotel and the licensee referred to by her. Mr. Glower: Very well, I will see him tomorrow. We will give him a faiT opportunity to meet the charge, and to disclaim any responsibility that may have been placed unfairly upon him. Membeis of the deputation: Hear, hear. A SURPRISED M.P. ' ; I have been deeply touched by the remarks of Mr 3. Mason, , " Baid Sir. AHarris, M.P., in referring to the incident, "and I might say that I did not have the slightest idea that any such practice existed in Auckland or, in fact, anywhere in New Zealand." Hβ declared that the public life of the Dominion was (town to a very low ebb if hotels were used as drinking shops for women —it would %c time to close them up. He was glad that Mrs. Mason had made known tic name of the hotel in question. THE POLICE WERE HCFOESSED. Mr. Harris said he thought that on those occasions the temperance people, were justified in publishing each matters. Mr. H- N. Bainall: We informed the police of the incident. , Mr. Harris: Then I am surprised that something was not done in response. The incident dosed -with a further promise from Mr. Glover to Took into the complaint.