FOR WOMEN HOTEL INCIDENT

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIV, Issue 54, 5 March 1943, Page 5

FOR WOMEN HOTEL INCIDENT

MOTHERS' EXPERIENCE

PREJUDICE AGAINST BABIES

An unpleasant experience fell to two young mothers with babies, when they were refused admittance to two hotels in a North Island town, because of the prejudice of the landladies towards young children.

One of the women, relating her story, said that they wished to stay in a town near Palmerston North, but had not booked in at an hotei beforehand. Arriving there, they were refused admittance to each of the two hotels in the town. At the first hotel they were told that babies were not taken there. At the second hotel they saw a maid first, who told them there was accommodation available, but when the land lady came, she glanced at the babies and said she had no rooms.

They _then wandered round, trying unsuccessfully to obtain accommotion and finally had to resort to the local policeman for help. He telephoned the second hotel, inquiring about rooms, without revealing his identity, and was told by the landlady that she had plenty of accommodation.

The policeman took the two young mothers, who were accompanied by another girl, to the hotel and demanded shelter for them. The landlandy forced to take them showed the party of five Into a t>acK room. She told them she would not allow prams into the room, and said the babies must sleep on beds on the floor. One of the babies was only four months old. However, the girl in the party brought the prams in, in spite of this order. ■

They were also refused hot water, the landlady saying that if they went into the kitchen the cook 'would leave.

In desperation they, appealed once more to the policeman and he obtained a little satisfaction in this respect, but the atmosphere and conditions were naturally strained and uncomfortable, and had their effect on the babies. The mother who told the story, said that although they were only there for a week-end her baby had been upset for some days following their return.

Auckland licensee's View When the Star made inquiries from the licensee of a large Auckland hotel, whether prejudice against children was a legal ground for refusing admittance to them, he replied, "No. If accommodation is available at a hotel, it must be given to any intending guest. The police can demand shelter for any such preson, but cannot obtain redress for the type of food or conditions provided.

"The only thing that can be done then is to complain to the management,. if the licensee is not the proprietor." This licensee referred to his own policy towards parents, which appeared to be in the "kind but firm" category. "I always tell parents who wish to stay at the hotel that they must not bring their babies to the dining-room and must look after them personally, so that the youngsters are not left crying in their rooms, while the parents are having dinner.

"I would not refuse a mother with a baby, and I find that most parents are and promise to see that their infants do not disturb the other guests."