BARE-LEG BAN

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20477, 11 February 1941, Page 8

BARE-LEG BAN

WOMEN IN KITCHEN AUCKLAND HOSPITAL MUST WEAR STOCKINGS INCENTIVE TO NEATNESS (Per Press Association.) AUCKLAND, this day. Whether women on the kitchen stall' of the Auckland Hospital should be permitted to work without stockings, was debated at a meeting of the Auckland Hospital Board last night. Many interesting opinions about feminine beauty and neatness were expressed by members of the predominantly male board before it was decided by six votes to five that stockings must be worn. A request from the kitchen staff for permission to discard stockings at work was made through the secretary of the Auckland Hotel, Restaurant and Related Trades Employees’ Union, Mr. F. G. Young, but an objection to the proposal on the ground of untidiness was made in a report by the acting lady superintendent, Miss Cussen. “Reasonable Request" “This request appears to us to bo a reasonable one, particularly in view of the present shortage due to the war,” said Mr. Young. He added that members would probably be aware that in many factories, offices and ■ shops, including large tearooms, girls had been given permission to work .without stockings “I do not approve- of any members of our staff who wear uniform being permitted to wear any blit the full ;uniform,” said Miss Cussen in her report. Very strict supervision of tindomestic staff was necessary to ensure neatness. It would be inadvisable to ■grant permission, as she believed thal requests would then be received from other sections of the staff. A reason-ably-priced stocking at 3s bd a pair was procurable and was being worn by members of the nursing staff. The chairman, Mr. Allan J. Moody, moved that Miss Cussen’s report be adopted. Mrs. Dreaver moved and Dr. J. P. Hastings seconded an amendment that the wearing of stockings by the kitchen staff be optional. Other members expressed varying views, after which the amendment was put and lost and the motion was carried.