WHY BARMAIDS STAY YOUNG

Evening Star, Issue 21824, 13 September 1934, Page 3

WHY BARMAIDS STAY YOUNG

\ Many years ago, the Victorian Parliament, with the avowed intention of abolishing barmaids, passed a law prohibiting the issue of any new barmaids’ licenses. It is a constant source of wonder to those unfamiliar with another provision of the law that barmaids, instead of becoming older as the years roll on, are younger to-day than ever they were. Some who are serving in city hotels are mere “ flapPfrs.” The explanation is that the law allows relatives of licensees to be employed the bar, and it is suggested by uncharitable persons that, when the law was passed, many hotel-keepers acquired large numbers of new sisters and nieces, and even aunts. A deputation of members of tbe League of Registered Barmaids, which waited on the Chief Secretary, declared also that licenses have been carefully preserved through the years, and are now being used by girls who wore not born when the licenses were originally issued. It was said that some licenses had been sold several times over, and that they had been “borrowed” and oven duplicated. Several methods by which the law might be adequately policed were suggested, and the C hief Secretary promised to consider them.